Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Heaven, Earth, and Man.
Sacred Martial Hall provided rooms for martial artists according to different contract types.
As martial artists under the contract of the Inner Sacred Martial Hall, the rooms they resided in were known as the Heavenly Rooms.
As for those under the contract of the Outer Sacred Martial Hall, their accommodation was known as the Earth House.
Qin Fen took his badge and searched for his building number among the houses in the Earth House: Accommodation Area One hundred twenty-second Building, Sixth floor Room A.
Building One twenty-two? Qin Fen looked at the badge in his hand and shook his head again in disbelief. Such an exaggerated number. Just how many martial artists were there in the Sacred Martial Hall?
“The cost of your basic necessities are fully covered by the Sacred Martial Hall, along with an annual bonus given according to your performance.” Xue Tuan pointed at Building One twenty-two in the distance, “Under normal circumstances, do you think many people are willing to leave?”
Qin Fen nodded in agreement. The welfare of the Sacred Martial Hall was as good as how Xue Tian described. Compared to the high living costs in modern society, the benefits of staying in the Sacred Martial Hall to practice martial arts was clearly a better choice. It came as no surprise that not many people were willing to leave.
“Eh?” Xue Tian looked at the crowd downstairs of Building One twenty-two cheerfully, “Why are there no crowds in other buildings except for ours? Could it be that the martial artists from the same block are throwing a welcome party for us? The people from the Sacred Martial Hall are so friendly.”
A welcome party? Qin Fen looked at the forced smiles of Caesar and the others. Why is there a sense of hostility emanating from the very people who were going to throw a welcome party?
Qin Fen roughly counted the number of people in the crowd. There were approximately forty people in front. Judging by their appearances, everyone was around the same age.
Standing at the forefront was a young martial artist with a burly build and a square face. His appearance gave the impression of straightforwardness. His massive stature was approximately one point ninety-five meters. Even if he just stood still on the ground, it would give off a feeling that his fighting ability was solid and grand. Furthermore, from his icy and disdainful stare, he seemed to be the leader of the crowd. Moreover, he was clearly provocative.
Xue Tian deliberately slowed down his steps to walk side by side with Qin Fen, all the while showing no intent to fight by hugging his katana tightly.
Yang Lie turned around to look at Qin Fen just to find out that the very martial artist that rang the fog bell also seem to have no desire to fight.
Shua!
Mourad Tschick suddenly came forward in big steps, surpassing Caesar and others in an instant and reaching the front of the team. His vermilion-colored spear radiated chilling reflections of light as the sun shone brightly on it.
Yang Lie smiled and slowed down his pace. Since someone was feeling aggressive today, there was no need for him to be aggressive as well. Confrontations and fights were inevitable in the Sacred Martial Hall, why bother picking a fight hastily?
“Stop right there!”
“Out of the way!”
Both sides became confrontational almost at the same time.
The burly young martial artist was stunned for a moment before his face turned pale. As his eyes assessed Morad, the initial iciness and inattention in his eyes transformed into unadulterated rage.
What a crazy newcomer… it seemed that Three Sacred Martial Exam had really inflated the egos of these newbies.
The crowd of forty martial artists laughed loudly. An inflation of ego? This is normal! Every newcomer acts with the same arrogance, as if they were gods.
“Out of the way?” The burly man looked down at Morad with his height advantage, “Hey kid, as a senior of yours that arrived three months ago, apart from welcoming you into the Sacred Martial Hall, I have to warn you – this place is different from the outside world. It is the Sacred Martial Hall! A gathering place of heroes! As a newcomer junior, you better tone down your arrogance and keep it low-key so you won’t land everyone in trouble.”
Low key? Arrogance? Qin Fen looked at the people around him curiously. Were we arrogant?
Caesar and Yang Lie had a helpless smile and shrugged their shoulders. We have just entered the Sacred Martial Hall, how was there even time for us to be arrogant? Furthermore, we are here with a clear mission – to broaden our horizons in this Holy Land of martial arts. So why do we even need to be arrogant? Maybe Mourad’s “out of the way” may come off as a little bit rude and arrogant, but there is a perfectly valid reason for that!
Good dogs don’t stand in the way. No martial artist was willing to retreat and not be confrontational about it if they were blocked by confrontational people in the middle of the road.
Qin Fen drew parallels with the Sacred Martial Hall and the military. The veterans or seniors would surely show off their power and scare you into submission regardless of whether you were low-key or showing off.
Morad turned to look at Qin Fen. Xue Tian remained silent, smiling as he watched the scene. Qin Fen had built a competent and compassionate reputation over time, making him the de facto leader of the group. Even Mourad, who harbored a deep hatred for Qin Fen, subconsciously assessed Qin Fen’s reactions before making a move.
“Oh, alright. Thank you, my dear seniors. Can we enter the building now?”
Qin Fen nodded humbly and smiled . There is no need to get involved in this confrontation as there is nothing to gain nor learn from fighting with these people. Plus, I don’t think that they plan to retain the same arrogance today in the future anyway.
…
The forty or so martial artists at the entrance frowned simultaneously. There was no fear at all in that calm smile. It was like the reaction of an elder listening to the reports of a junior! The actions of Qin Fen really pissed off the seniors! Why was his response so insincere and off-putting?
The burly leader locked his sights on Qin Fen and asked, “You are the leader of these people?”
Ring ring…
Qin Fen’s mobile phone interrupted his response with an incoming call.
Lin Liqiang was calling. Qin Fen did not hesitate with choosing between answering his seniors in the Sacred Martial Hall and answering the phone call from his old friend. He pressed the ‘answer’ key and moved aside as he ordered, “You guys deal with this. I gotta answer a phone call…”
Deal with this? Answer a phone call?
The forty or so martial artists were shocked for a few seconds. This newbie really got balls, ignoring the questions of a senior! He is really arrogant, more so than me in my early days!
“Very good, very good.” The burly man’s face showed a smile borne out of anger and nodded, “Remember my name: Huang Fengwan! Spare me the embarrassment by other seniors of not educating you when they give you another lesson later!”
Xue Tian smiled and quietly retreated to the side. Caesar and Yang Lie also did the same. Since someone wanted to pick a fight that badly, they would let anyone wanting the same to reciprocate.
“Huang Fengwan! Teach them a lesson! These newbies are too arrogant!”
“Beat the f**k out of him!”
Forty martial artists clamored for a fight. There were no shortages of arrogant newbies in the Sacred Martial Hall, but arrogant newbies shouting “out of the way” at first sight, followed by “alright”, and then totally ignoring the seniors, was really the first.
Morad looked at Qin Fen who was on the phone and looked at the encouraging eyes of Xue Tian. The spear in his hand suddenly stabbed the ground! The Joji Spear was three feet into the ground, and the spear shivered lightly in the air when released, producing a deafening humming sound.
Huang Fengwan squinted his eyes. The ground of the Sacred Martial Hall is much harder and sturdier than the ground outside, how could he easily stab his spear three feet into the ground? With someone of such caliber in the group, it is no wonder these newbies were so arrogant. Their leader doesn’t seem to be that strong, he must be relying on his powerful family. The strongest man in front of me must’ve been his bodyguard.
“Old Qin, long time no see. Did you miss me?”
Qin Fen listened to the cheeky question by Lin Liqiang that engulfed him into a sense of familiarity he had not had for a long time and replied without hesitation, “Nope.”
“No? I’m sad… you have to make it up for me!”
Lin Liqiang dragged a long, rogue-like tone that evoked laughter from Qin Fen again. This mate is still cheeky as always.
“How can I make it up to you?”
“Insect warrior.”
Two simple words sounded through the phone, yet, it was as if a thunderclap happened in the air. Qin Fen’s eyes brightened for a split moment before the silence returned.
That nightmarish scene had already been repressed by his memory. However, the scene resurfaced in his mind once again just as it was mentioned.
What exactly are the insect warrior? Where do they come from? Qin Fen had scoured the Internet for answers but to no avail. There weren’t any textual nor image information regarding insect warrior in the mutated organisms category either, as if they were an undiscovered species.
According to the rules of the Federation and the military in the face of such serious events, it should be reported immediately to the public with the announcement of the names of the soldiers killed in action.
However, after the sudden appearance of the insect warrior, the Federation and the military did not announce this to the public. Rather according to hearsay, they hid all related information including the name lists of the recruits killed in action. The families of the recruits were notified of a secretive and special training for the recruits and were forbidden from contacting the recruits.
From the abnormal happenings, Qin Fen knew that the events related to the insect warrior were far more complicated as more revelations deliberately hidden from him.
“Old Qin, I have encountered some problems with my biochemical beast research these days.” Lin Liqiang stared at the constantly changing data on the computer screen. The bright changes on the screen flashed on his face, “I suddenly remembered your description of the insect warriors, who were able to integrate perfectly with the human body in an instant, enhancing their combat abilities. Perhaps there is something that I can learn from them.”
“Insect warrior…” Qin Fen smiled helplessly, “I haven’t seen them ever since.”
“It’s okay. I don’t need to work on that weird thing right now. I just called to remind you to keep your eyes peeled for it. After all, you are part of the military and one of the few survivors after direct contact with them. I am sure that the military and scientists of the Federation will not let such a peculiar incident slide completely. Maybe they have similar interests regarding the insect warrior. You may be assigned to a similar mission in the near future. By then just do me a favor and get some live samples of the insect for my research. I would like to dissect and research it.”
Lin Liqiang closed a program and continued, “I really wanted to know who the genius behind this warlike monstrosity is. Perhaps it’s an alien creature created by God? Perhaps it can bring us to the answer to the mystery behind the sudden emergence of mutant creatures.”
“Alright. I will keep my eyes peeled for that. I will participate in similar tasks if given the opportunity.”
Qin Fen hung up and shook his head again. The mindset of a martial artist was indeed different from a scientist. Lin Liqiang’s curiosity for answers regarding the source of the mutant species far exceeded those of ordinary people.
“Anyone else?”
Mourad Tschick’s chilling voice drifted into Qin Fen’s ears slowly and rhythmically.
“This is?” Qin Fen looked up to see the burly man who was blocking the entrance a moment ago knocked out on the ground alongside several other martial artists. Mourad Tschick’s fists were drenched with bright-red blood. Looking at him from behind, it was as if he was Killer God on a battlefield.
Forty martial artists wavered in the face of Mourad Tschick’s chillingly murderous aura and simultaneously took a step backward. Apart from shock, fear was also visible in their eyes.
A newcomer easily knocked out a senior that practiced in the Hall for three months. Although this has happened in the history of the Sacred Martial Hall, those that managed to do so were the elite of their own generation. Could it be that this young man is the leader of this generation? If that’s the case, he should belong to the Inner Sacred Martial Hall instead! What is he doing here, did he come to the wrong place?
Silence befell the forty martial artists of the Sacred Martial Hall who had no intention of retreating. The Sacred Martial Hall wasn’t like any other place. If you can’t teach these newbies the importance of being humble today, by the time the seniors from the previous year revisit the Sacred Martial Hall…
It is not only these newcomers who will be punished! Huang Fengwan and others will also be taught another lesson for failing to give a warning in advance.
Within a brief moment of silence, the forty martial artists looked at each other and knew exactly what they must do – a group attack! They did not believe that everyone in the group was as strong as that Western Asian looking guy.
The battle intent was formed in an instant.
Qin Fen was stunned. How did the events transpire to this within the time of a phone call? Are they going to fight us as a group?
“You guys want to come all at once? That’s fine with me!” Yang Lie smiled and turned to Qin Fen, “Qin Fen, it seems that we have to force our way through to get to our rooms today.”
“Qin Fen?”
“Qin Fen? The Qin Fen that defeated Hades, the Young Netherworld King?”
“That Qin Fen, whom the Earth Martial God announced a free-for-all challenge on?”
The martial artists blocking the building entrance emitted surprise and shock in their words, and many among them took in audible deep cold breaths.
The very name of Hades, the Young Netherworld King was too famous in the martial arts world, as he was the son of Baihu, the Beast of Venus! Inheriting the secret martial art techniques of the White Tiger, Hades had overtaken countless martial arts masters in his father’s age group at the young age of eighteen! Therefore, it was widely agreed upon by many martial arts masters that he might be able to enter the ranks of the Divine Beasts in the future.
The newly roused crowd instantly wavered upon hearing Qin Fen’s name. If he was really the person that defeated Hades, the Young Netherworld King, not even the collapsed Huang Fengwan nor the second-year seniors of the Sacred Martial Hall can succeed in even scaring Qin Fen.
Who was Hades, the Young Netherworld King? He was a true genius! If he accepted the invitation to the Sacred Martial Hall, these seniors wouldn’t have dared to continue the tradition of bullying newcomers into submission. Rather, they would seek help from the newcomers to pull off the tradition on Hades instead.
“I am Qin Fen.”
With a simple answer, the young martial artists that were blocking the door subconsciously retreated to both sides and opened a path into the building.
Qin Fen, he is Qin Fen! The strongest martial artist in this age group! The newcomer that paralleled Shangguan Chuanqi in fame!
Qin Fen looked at the newly created path and suddenly thought of a saying in his mind: “The name of a person is equivalent to the shadow of the tree!”
Xue Tian grabbed his katana sheath and stretched his body, “If everything could be settled just by saying Qin’s name, why did we even bother to fight just now?”
“Finished so soon?” Asura Fenghua Danyun’s eyes showed a hint of slight disappointment as she sat on the rooftop of the building with her face propped to her hand. The wind blew by her ears as her black hair floated around the air, exuding an aura of a young girl, “He didn’t even make a move, what a boring show…”
Fenghua Danyun’s sweet laughing voice and big watery eyes resembled a kid congratulating themselves of a successful prank before carrying it out, “How about I gather some people from the Inner Sacred Martial Hall to rough up this little guy?”
Qin Fen suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to look at the building in the distance. Since the beginning, he felt that someone was deliberately hiding their presence while observing him. Yet, he couldn’t pinpoint the location. Such a situation had never happened before for Qin Fen.
What an expert! Even if that person wasn’t a martial dao master, they must at least be a camouflage expert like a drill instructor.
“Ah? Am I discovered?” Fenghua Danyun’s raised her eyebrows in surprise, “How observant. I deliberately hid my aura and yet I am discovered.”
Qin Fen stared curiously at Fenghua Danyun. This woman was obviously hiding. Why was she waving her hands in respect when she was discovered?
“A beauty!” Xue Tian screamed happily and raised his arm over his head, happily waving back at Fenghua Danyun.
Everyone looked at Xue Tian curiously. There was quite a long distance between them and the woman, to the point where it was considered impressive to know that the figure belonged to a woman. How could Xue Tian be so sure that the woman was a beautiful one?
“I totally didn’t expect that there would be such beautiful women in the Sacred Martial Hall.” Xue Tian exclaimed as he repeatedly hit Qin Fen with his elbow, “Old Qin, if we knew that there were such beautiful women in this place, we should have come here the moment we received the invitation! But too bad, you are already taken! The beauty of this lady is comparable to Song Jia’s beauty!”
“Powerful.” Qin Fen nodded slightly and looked at the people around him, “Hey seniors, may I ask if you know who that woman is?”
Forty martial artists looked at each other and saw nothing. Curiosity and confusion were in all of their eyes.
The Sacred Martial Hall was much bigger than what the outer world had imagined, how was it possible for the martial artists to completely know everyone in here? Moreover, it was almost impossible to clearly see her appearance from this distance.
“It’s alright. I don’t think she came with malicious intent, but curiosity.”
Qin Fen calmly shook his head and turned around into Building One twenty-two.
