Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Isolation? Special training? The head of each department rushed to recruit disciples?
Qin Fen followed Ferrero and Sakra with the news from the two major heads still ringing in his head. This is really amazing.
Any martial artist who joined the Sacred Martial Hall knew clearly that it was a difficult task to be recruited as a disciple in this place. To be a disciple of a martial dao master would mean a tremendous blessing from your ancestors. As for being a disciple of a head of a department… the chances were slim even if your ancestors gave you their full blessings.
The heads of the Sacred Martial Hall consisted of an extremely powerful group of martial artists who represented an elite clique of martial artists within the Sacred Martial Hall.
Although a martial dao master may start a martial arts dojo in the urban of the Federation, they would only accept a minimal number of disciples. That wasn’t only because of the lack of truly talented people to recruit as disciples, but also a social symbol for the master.
Usually, the heads of the Sacred Martial Hall were aloof and arrogant, not even giving a second thought to who you are.
Fighting for disciples? Since the inception of the Sacred Martial Hall, none had ever enjoyed such special treatment except for the Martial Madman and Qin Fen.
Qin Fen was amazed and happy for everyone else at the same time. These martial artists that were heads of departments were surely real, talented and powerful people.
Ferrero, Sakra, and Asura were the three other heads in the Sacred Martial Hall that Qin Fen knew personally. All three also possessed deep and solid foundations of martial dao. As for the other heads, although he didn’t know them personally, Qin Fen knew that they would also have their own unique skills.
The Sacred Martial Hall was vast. It took Qin Fen twenty minutes of walking with the two major heads before coming across and stopping by a building.
This was an extremely special building. From the shape it looked like a ball that was split in half, taking the shape of a round bowl buckling on the ground.
The quirky architectural style revealed an unknown era. Evidence of high technology loomed over the building, with the huge word, ‘Intelligence’, floated above the building.
The Intelligence Department, one of the three divisions of the Outer Sacred Martial Hall. They were responsible for collecting intelligence for the special division within the Recruitment Department.
Qin Fen heard about the head of the Intelligence Department. According to the titles given by the Astasena, the head of the Intelligence Department was known as the Dragon King Ba Baiying, who had taken the role as the head of the Intelligence Department for many years.
The door of the intelligence department suddenly lifted up like the floodgates of a dam before Qin Fen could knock on it.
As the door opened, Qin Fen’s skin suddenly felt a chilling battle intent, a murderous aura resembling a real knife, breaking through the barriers of space and hitting straight into the heart of Qin Fen.
Boom! The air let out a muffled explosion. Qin Fen stepped back a little, staring at the man walking out of the room cautiously.
A long-sleeved shirt of a snowy color! With the length of his black hair going past his waist! A pair of chilly pupils, with a chilly aura surrounding his body. His long, black hair flew without the wind, swaying along with his advance.
The head of the Sacred Martial Hall’s Intelligence Department! The Dragon King Ba Baiying!
A fierce and stunning roar was released from the room behind Ba Baiying, the roar sounded like something inhuman!
The door opened and closed instantly! That forlorn and bitter scream had isolated them from the outside world.
“Dragon King, what is the meaning of this?”
Ferrero’s body moved in front of Qin Fen in a flash; Sakra did the same by silently standing between Qin Fen and Ba Baiying, while staring cautiously and gloomily at the Dragon King from the Intelligence Department, readying himself for a fight at a moment’s notice.
If there was no reasonable explanation, Ferrero and Sakra didn’t mind risking a scandal of ganging up on the Dragon King.
As a master, it was unforgivable to allow their disciples to be bullied in front of them! Moreover the purpose of Qin Fen’s visit this time wasn’t even a declaration of war.
“What is the meaning of this?” The chilly eyes of the Dragon King were filled with a heated anger that contradicted his nature. He raised his arms and pointed it like a sword towards Qin Fen that was behind both the major heads and said, “I want to kill him.”
The chilling words came out from the mouth of the Dragon King, seemingly freezing the air in the process! No one would doubt the words of the head of the Intelligence Department and pass it off as a joke.
The Dragon King really does intend to kill!
Qin Fen silently looked at the angry Dragon King without moving. He could recognize the scream behind the door earlier even if he didn’t see that person for a very long time. That inhuman scream earlier belonged to the Little Dragon King, Yang Lie!
Qin Fen knew of his team very well. Yang Lie was more lively than others, yet his endurance was no worse than anyone else’s, like the stoic Solomon.
During the days of special training under the Asura, everyone had received countless inhuman torture. Everyone had screamed and groaned at least once during the training. Yet Qin Fen had never heard a horrendous scream like that come from the Little Dragon King, Yang Lie!
That’s right, horrendous! Even if he couldn’t see Yang Lie and could only hear his voice across the wall, he knew that Yang Lie was in an extremely abnormal state.
A fierce roar! A roar that even pierced through the best soundproof doors. The Dragon King’s ears twitched slightly, his face suddenly became icy; his lips and eyelids were twitching repeatedly as his eyes showed signs of heartbreak, like the vast ocean channeling a huge wave all of a sudden.
Koo-koo…
Dragon King Ba Baiying’s throat squirmed a little, as his eyes flashed with murderous intent as he walked towards Qin Fen, all the while ignoring the two major heads, “Both of you stay back, or I will kill you too.”
Ferrero and Sakra were both shocked. Usually, although the Dragon King Ba Baiying spent his time cultivating his original technique – the Ultimate Freezing technique; he was a very kind person in general, having cordial relations with other honor seats as well as showing a peaceful face to the junior martial artists. They have no idea why he wanted to kill Qin Fen the moment he met him.
“Dragon King…”
“Masters, please excuse me. I have something that I need to consult the Dragon King about.”
As Qin Fen’s voice rang out, both of the major heads looked at each other awkwardly, but cautiously retreated behind Qin Fen. If the Dragon King really made the move to kill, they would intervene!
Qin Fen was indeed strong, especially when compared with the younger generation. However, Ferrero and Sakra weren’t confident that Qin Fen could take on a head of a department.
Regardless of strength or experience, those that were qualified to become a head of a department would have unusual amounts of both aforementioned aspects.
As for the biochemical beast or the drugs used in combat, if Qin Fen has it, how would a head — an expert martial artist of the Sacred Martial Hall — lack in those things?
Qin Fen was just at the apex of the main-star level. Every honor seat of the Sacred Martial Hall on the other hand, had attained the rank of eternal-star level.
“Consult?” Ba Baiying’s chilling light intensified in his eyes. A dragon-shaped footwork from his ankles rendered the distance of thirty-meters between him and Qin Fen non-existent, as the air-tunnel behind him began to rumble. His technique — the Hellforged Fireball smashed from the sky as a screech pierced through the air, seemingly wanting to shred the air into a hundred pieces.
Every move of Ba Baiying was filled with murderous intent. The martial power of eighteen-stars directly enveloped Qin Fen, resembling a skyfall!
Eighteen-stars? Qin Fen’s scalp began to numb, the hairs on the top of his head stood up like a porcupine defending itself. Activating the true aura shield, Qin Fen turned his skin into an ice-jade texture, exuding a faint light from it in the process. He then crossed his arms and channeled ‘Entanglement’ to Ba Baiying’s Hellforged Fireball.
Boom!
As both palms were placed on the arms of the Dragon King, a loud noise was produced from the impact when there should’ve been none. Qin Fen’s arms entangled the Dragon King’s arms like tree vines, decimating the killing power of the Fireball.
Ba Baiying moved his ankle forcefully, turning the surface around him with a radius of one meter into complete dust! He concentrated his power on his back and twisted, popping his bones like firecrackers during the Lunar New Year. Qin Fen’s legs could no longer stick to the ground, and soon after, he was hit by the spitting dragon, breaking his entanglement on Ba Baiying’s arms and was blasted away to a distance like a cannonball.
Three hundred meters away, Qin Fen landed on the ground and was forced back for another fifty meters before halting completely. The ground was left with traces of his feet, like a field plowed by a bull; a depth of a foot was created in the ground for a distance of fifty meters.
Huh? A glimmer of surprise flashed in the murderous eyes of Ba Baiying. His Hellforged Fireball was entangled, forcing him to use the Fireball Spurting Gold Dragon Pill to hit his opponent. He did not expect that his consecutive strikes would not kill his opponent. When he began to move his body, someone was already blocking his way forward.
Two majestically overwhelming killing intent directly shrouded Ba Baiying completely.
Qin Fen’s energy and blood-flow were churning violently. His arms were numb as he gasped heavily and stared at the Dragon King, Ba Baiying in the distance.
This was the strength of a head of the Sacred Martial Hall! Able to channel such ferocious power without charging beforehand, even the Entanglement technique could only deflect half of his shots!
Exhaling deeply, Qin Fen’s body returned to its optimal state. His true aura shield had been completely shattered in just a touch earlier, which was something Qin Fen had never encountered before.
Sakra Aziya stared coldly at the Dragon King Ba Baiying with a dark purple expression filled with an intensifying intent to kill. Purple-blue electric light was orbited him while cracking non-stop, like tens of thousands of electric beams producing a red message.
“One more step and I will kill you!”
Just as Aziya’s voice landed, a purple column of electro-optical light shot up to the sky, as if it intended to penetrate the clouds in the sky. The purple electric-field enveloped the whole area shortly after.
Sakra, the legendary Lord of Thunder! The God who controls lightning! When the holder of thunder was enraged, the color of the heavens and earth would change.
Aziya was enraged. Ba Baiying was also considered an uncle to Qin Fen in terms of seniority. How could he simply kill such a rare disciple? If Qin Fen was the enemy of the Sacred Martial Hall, then he himself would be solely responsible for settling his differences. But right now he is one of us! Attempting to kill him right in front of my face is unforgivable!
“A… Zi… Ya…”
When the Dragon King Ba Baiying shouted the name of Sakra with his mouth, the chilly air that was spurted out could be seen by the naked eye!
Qin Fen passed by Sakra and stood between Sakra and Ba Baiying. Facing the Dragon King filled with murderous intent, he arched his hands in respect and said, “Dragon King, Head of Department…”
“Die!”
Ba Baiying saw Qin Fen and began to strike with his dragon-claw-like fingers without a moment’s notice! A large piece of air was immediately frozen from the strike!
Qin Fen closed his mouth and instantly channeled his lightning step, disappearing on the spot like light smoke. Ba Baiying’s strike merely froze the residual image on the spot left by Qin Fen.
“What happened to Yang Lie?”
Qin Fen hurriedly asked from a hundred meters away.
Facing Ba Baiying, Qin Fen felt no fear! Even if the difference in the strength of star-class between them was huge and his chances of winning were slim, he would remain fearless.
But Yang Lie, the moment Qin Fen heard Yang Lie’s horrendous scream, his heart began to worry.
“Yang Lie?” Ba Baiying’s murderous eyes turned into one filled with gentleness, followed by overwhelming sorrow. His clenched fists trembled. His whole body was trembling!
With Sakra and Ferrero between Ba Baiying and Qin Fen, it is impossible for Ba Baiying to instantly kill Qin Fen. His shaking arms quickly turned into a trembling throughout his body.
“Qin Fen!” Ba Baiying screeched with the true energy he gathered. The clouds in the skies were dispersed from the screech, “You, you…”
Ba Baiying’s chest was palpitating violently. He looked at Qin Fen with deep hatred that one would have when looking at the murderer of their family and said, “It’s all your fault… all your fault… if it weren’t for you, my beloved disciple wouldn’t have suffered through such torment!”
Ba Baiying looked handsome at this moment. Even when his face was filled with rage, he still exuded a natural, unrestrained vibe – the very face that women loved and desired.
“Me?”
Qin Fen froze on the spot with puzzled eyes.
“See for yourself!”
Ba Baiying waved his arms in the air. A huge projection screen appeared in front of Qin Fen’s eyes, showing the image of Yang Lie.
In a simple yet spacious stone room, Yang Lie was wearing a martial artist suit on his body. The gold-colored long hair on his forehead was separated in the middle. His forehead was evidently sweaty, as he chatted through a videophone.
A middle-aged man with short, black hair and a tall nose appeared in the videophone. He possessed an oriental beauty and looked a little similar to Yang Lie.
“Father.”
Yang Lie bowed to the middle-aged man on the screen. His attitude was respectful and modest.
“I’m giving you an order. If Qin Fen comes to you and invites you to join his team, refuse immediately!”
A deep and low-pitched voice that carried a sense of irresistibility came out from the middle-aged man’s mouth.
Feeling a slight shock in his body, Yang Lie looked up at the middle-aged man on the screen and asked, “Why?”
“Why? Yang Lie, you never asked me why.”
The majestic gaze was as imposing as a mountain. Even for Qin Fen, who was separated by a screen, he could feel the tremendous majesty exuding from the middle-aged man. That wasn’t the kind of majesty caused by martial strength, but rather from the power of a master from a major clan, who had cultivated this majesty after presiding over the family for many years.
Yang Lie raised his head with his body trembling slightly, “Father, I need to know this time.”
Well, since you will inherit Yang’s family in the future, so I will tell you this time.” The middle-aged man’s eyes sharpened for a moment, “The interests! The Zuo clan ceded enough benefits to us, about the interests of Saturn…”
Yang Lie listened quietly to his father’s explanation about the ins and outs of all these things.
The matter was not complicated and Yang Lie quickly understood everything. After a few seconds of grunting, he slowly straightened his back. His fists were held together unknowingly, “Father, please allow me to refuse this order.”
“What did you say?” The middle-aged sharp eyes flashed a glimpse of surprise, “Yang Lie, do you know what you are talking about?”
Qin Fen’s eyelids flew up and looked at Yang Lie in the picture, who slowly nodded, “Yes, father. I know what I am talking about, I refuse to obey this order.”
“Yang Lie!”
The sound of the shout was like thunder, the pressure of being an elder over the years suddenly arose.
Yang Lie’s body suffered a shock. As an American he had received Zhongzhou’s Confucian education and went through military-like management from his father since young. Yang Lie had merely been obeying his father all this while.
“Father.” Yang Lie’s body trembled fiercely as his neck began to further harden, “Please allow me to tell you the reason.”
“Speak!”
The words of the middle-aged people remained brief. His eyes had already explained everything. That is, no matter what Yang Lie says, there is no way Yang Lie could change his mind. The interests of the clan takes precedence!
“Father, from your perspective, Qin Fen can bring you the most benefit.”
“He? What does he have? A fifteen-star martial dao master? Son, you had also completed the Nirvana Marrow Transformation. I believe that you can enter the fifteen star-class pretty soon. He is but a solo martial artist, but the Zuo clan is a huge force! There is no way Qin Fen could assume leadership of Saturn. Even if he does, he couldn’t control it either.”
Yang Lie raised his head higher, “He has a future, an infinite future!”
“Future?” The middle-aged man laughed coldly, “There may be nothing in the future. Yang Lie, answer me now. If Qin Fen comes to you, what should your answer be?”
“Father.” Yang Lie took a few breaths and said slowly, “From the start, you taught me that the family’s interests are greater than the sky. I have always followed your teaching, thinking that you were right, or maybe you are right. Over the years, I had no friends. You told me that friends were just tokens that could be exchanged for interests. But now I have to tell you that there is a friendship in the world that could not be exchanged with anything! I always thought that this kind of friendship did not exist, but now I know that it really exists! Qin Fen is my friend, and turning my back to my friend is the same as turning my back to myself. If you really want my answer, I can tell you – if Qin Fen comes to me, I will definitely go with him. No!”
Yang Lie shook his head hard and waved his fist and said, “If Qin Fen doesn’t come to me, I will go to him and beat the shit out of him! And I will tell him this is not how he should treat his friends!”
“You…”
“Respected father, please forgive my stubbornness for once. Any benefits, regardless of how huge it is, can’t be compared to our friendship. This is my first time making friends, and this is the first time I’ve made a group of friends. I am very happy with them. So… goodbye…”
Yang Lie crushed the projection phone with his fingers just as he stopped his words.
“Master, please prepare the third-level of the Flame God Realm with infinite time. I need to improve my strength. Yes, before Qin Fen arrives, I need to become stronger!”
Yang Lie’s voice was slow and firm. The Dragon King Ba Baiying’s body trembled violently, as the muscles of his eyes twitched uncontrollably, “What did you say? Third-level of the Flame God Realm? Infinite time? Yang Lie, do you know what you are doing? Right now, if you enter the third-level of the Flame God Realm you can only withstand for two hours! Any duration longer than that you will…”
“Master, remember your promise to me when you accepted me as your disciple?” Yang Lie showed a particularly handsome smile, “I know that I can only withstand this for two hours, but time is running out. Qin Fen is coming and I am only peaking at fourteen-stars. Going with him will only drag him down and this is not what I want. Others might’ve gotten the news, and I don’t want to lose to those guys.”
“Maybe Qin Fen will not come…” Dragon King Ba Baiying tried to convince him again, only for Yang Lie to put his index finger in front of his lips and said, “Master, Qin Fen will look for me. I can hear him alighting the plane. That’s right, he will come, isn’t it? We are friends, aren’t we? If he doesn’t come, I will kill him. He knew that I would be waiting for him, so he will come!”
“Master!” Yang Lie smiled again, more vibrantly than before, “The third level of the Flame God Realm, please. Please allow your disciple to go along with it for once, for the sake of my friends, please allow me to do so.”
The door opened, presenting a fire-breathing furnace in front of Yang Lie. With a happy smile, he walked into the Realm of the Flame God.
Qin Fen clenched his fist unknowingly, piercing the knife-resistant skin with his fingers. Although he didn’t know what the Realm of the Flame God was, he could understand why Yang Lie would scream like that the moment he saw the hot flames.
Little Dragon King Yang Lie, who cultivated extremely chilling internal arts, had entered the extremely hot space to practice internal art?!
The image ended here. Ba Baiying looked at Qin Fen resentfully, “Do you know? Yang Lie has the best potential! He has a huge family and a bright future for him to inherit! You really do not see Yang Lie as a friend, doing nothing to get him out of there but standing at the same spot as you watch him break through just for you. He has been in there for nearly twenty hours! He will die soon…”
“He won’t die! I won’t drag him out either.”
Qin Fen clenched his teeth, with blood dripping from his fists. He stood up and said, “I want to wait for him right here. I know that his request to me is to stand here and wait for him! If he wants me to stand here, then I shall! Yang Lie will definitely survive!”
