Chapter 419: A Flashy Return! The Advance of the Dragon and Tiger!
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
The proposal of marriage was a special ancient tradition that uniquely belongs to the Chinese.
Through societal advancements, this tradition was eventually abandoned by many Chinese.
Song Jia held the phone in her hands in disbelief of what she heard, and her beautiful and starry eyes were s.h.i.+ning bright.
The date for the proposal was brought forward! Song Jia held the phone with slightly trembling hands. She wondered if she was dreaming. Qin Fen, who was somewhat pa.s.sive in relations.h.i.+ps, took the initiative today.
A proposal of marriage! In today’s well developed society, such traditions were not completely non-existent.
On the contrary, many aristocratic families paid more attention to this.
If one wished to marry the granddaughter of the Earth Martial G.o.d, Song Wendong, a proposal of marriage was obviously unavoidable.
The thing about making a marriage proposal in front of Song Wendong required more than strength alone. One would also need to possess extreme bravery to do so.
Who is Song Wendong? He was the Earth Martial G.o.d known as Qilin! The sect master of the Qilin sect! Although Song Wendong did not usually personally preside over the affairs of the Qilin Sect, the existence and scale of such a huge organization couldn’t be ignored.
The divine beast martial artists, who were seemingly above the law of the Federation, could kill you on the spot without hesitation if they were unsatisfied with the marriage proposal. There would be no actions taken from the police apart from registering you into the missing person registry, rather than a murder case.
Failing a marriage proposal with other families would just bring embarra.s.sment at most, but failing a marriage proposal at the Qilin, Song Wendong’s household would have consequences beyond suffering embarra.s.sment: death.
He was Song Wendong, the Qilin! By simply proposing a marriage at his household, the Qilin would feel that you were looking down on him. With his pride damaged, it would be no surprise that one could be killed on the spot.
The divine beast martial artists were the current core strength of the Federation. Every martial artist capable enough to become one had killed countless people.
This was an indisputable fact. Even Qin Fen and his group had killed a lot of people, let alone divine beast martial artists. If they didn’t have enough blood on their hands, the number of martial artists challenging them every day would be sufficient to make a line from the South Pole to the North Pole.
The divine beast martial artists were not Confucian masters. They all possessed uniquely extreme personalities. They wouldn’t care about what ordinary people think about them and conform into a gentle master.
You could look down on them behind their backs, but you couldn’t insult them right in front of their faces. This was exactly the same reasoning as not touching the b.u.t.t of a tiger.
What is the relations.h.i.+p between Qin Fen and Song Wendong? People of status, as long as they weren’t blind or deaf, would know that Qin Fen and the Qilin were at odds with each other.
And at that time, Qin Fen had gone to partic.i.p.ate in the initial test of marrying Song Wendong’s granddaughter. However, Song Wendong excluded Qin Fen from a list with only a phone call.
As a result, Qin Fen who was a newbie martial artist at that time, was enraged! He went on to beat up the candidates that pa.s.sed Song Wendong’s initial test into the hospital, outright challenging the Qilin who hadn’t met any resistance for many years.
Subsequently, Song Wendong issued a direct order. Anyone wis.h.i.+ng to marry his granddaughter Song Jia would have to pa.s.s the first test, which was to beat up Qin Fen to the point he got admitted to the hospital in a one-on-one battle.
As a result of the order by Song Wendong, those who went to found and troubled Qin Fen became the source of his martial arts improvement. Not only he did not get admitted into a hospital, he also greatly improved his fighting abilities, defeating even Hades, the Young Netherworld King.
a.n.a.lyzing Qin Fen’s series of battles from the sidelines, he had managed to touch Song Wendong, the Qilin’s b.u.t.t at this point.
In this case, if Song Wendong went to kill Qin Fen, no one could say anything about it.
If you couldn’t touch a tiger’s b.u.t.t, what made you think that you could touch a Qilin’s b.u.t.t?
Song Wendong, however, did not appear in front of Qin Fen these days. Many people suspected that it was because of the existence of Wu Zun in the Sacred Martial Hall.
As the master of one of the martial arts Holy Land, even Qilin had to give respect and not cross the line. Otherwise, it would be ridiculing Wu Zun if they were to kill one of Wu Zun’s pupils on his own territory. If Wu Zun did not retaliate, the reputation and pride of the Sacred Martial Hall would surely be on the line.
As of recently, Song Jia heard that Qin Fen would soon leave the martial arts Holy Land that granted him sanctuary. Qin Fen would be visiting the Song family directly to propose marriage. While Song Jia was happy for the upcoming proposal, she was more worried than happy.
Over the past six months, Song Jia had occasionally heard some rumors about Qin Fen. Every time Song Wendong heard Qin Fen’s name, he displayed an unsettling aura.
How was this a marriage proposal? If things went south it would be more like sending a sheep into the tiger’s mouth.
“Qin Fen…” Song Jia gently held the phone, “My grandfather is very unsettled every time he hears your name. I think that you should just…”
“Wait a little longer?” Qin Fen smiled calmly, “I’ve been very pa.s.sive in dealing with this from the start. As for you, some of the burdens should be carried by me, yet you had been taking all the burdens by yourself. Every time I thought of this I feel like I am not a man. As for your grandfather, I no longer wish to be pa.s.sive and react only to events caused by his orders.
“But…”
“No buts, all you need right now is to wait quietly and don’t stress yourself out. I am handling some things right now, and I will be there soon.” Qin Fen slightly clenched the phone as he was holding it, “This time, I am the one who will protect you, rather than the other way around. I’ve thought about it clearly, men should always be taking the initiative rather than pa.s.sively accepting the challenges of others.”
Pa… zila…
…
Qin Fen’s pa.s.sionate face was short-lived as his expression turned into a helpless smile. His excitement during the phone call had him ignoring his control of strength, which caused him to accidentally crus.h.i.+ng his expensive phone.
“Qin Fen, you broke it yourself this time.”
Yang Lie swiftly took a half step back and made a little distance between him and Qin Fen.
Several other people also reacted the same with Yang Lie, by withdrawing to a safe distance backward.
A helpless smile was still a helpless smile. Qin Fen looked at the smashed pile of junk that was once a phone and shook his head. In the past, someone would pay for the things he damaged. Now he had only himself to cover the cost of the damages.
Helplessly, Qin Fen could only dispose of these metal sc.r.a.ps into the dumpster on the side of the road and said, “Let’s go, we shall meet the other prodigy existing in this world.”
Everyone smiled at each other and moved to the dormitory area at high speed.
Returning to the dorm area, Qin Fen displayed an expression of a long-lost smile. Previously, he was a total newcomer in this place and had to deal with the seniors troubling him every day. Qin Fen totally did not expect that he would be one of the seniors today visiting the newcomers.
The Outer Sacred Martial Hall basic cla.s.s was the choice made by the super newcomers a few months ago before entering the Sacred Martial Hall, once again causing headache to the Inner Martial Hall as it was another super newcomer that was also a basic cla.s.s from the Outer Sacred Martial Hall.
Under Building One twenty-two, Qin Fen saw two familiar figures.
Bai Sheng and Gao Yuan. When Qin Fen first entered the Sacred Martial Hall, they were the first senior martial artists who were friendly to him.
Qin Fen increased the speed of his feet and quickly came to bow lightly in front of Bai Sheng with sorry eyes, as he said, “Senior, sorry…”
Bai Sheng and Gao Yuan displayed brief shock before showing a smile of understanding, “Hey kid, there’s nothing to be sorry about. You did it with our best interests in mind, didn’t you?”
Qin Fen’s heart surged with thousands of emotions. On that very day, he helped the two seniors understand and master the six-levels of true energy oscillation, which allowed them to improve beyond expectations in martial dao for a short while.
This very act of goodwill — or so both sides thought at that time — was concluded by both sides being morally complicated after Qin Fen trained for half a year and had a deeper understanding of martial dao.
At first, Qin Fen was confused about his capability in a.s.sisting other martial artists to master the true energy oscillation. Qin Fen thought that anyone that went through the Marrow Reborn would be able to do the same, and was wondering why was there a large number of fourteen-star martial artists being stuck on their rank for many years.
As long as the six-level true energy oscillation was completed, the martial artist possessed the basic requirements to undergo the Nirvana Marrow Transformation.
With the improvement of strength and further understanding of martial dao, Qin Fen understood that martial dao couldn’t always rely on external help.
For example, the six-level true energy oscillation thing could only be slowly experienced alone. If it was completed with external help, it spoiled things through impatience although the powers were improved in the short term on the surface.
If Bai Sheng had a ten percent impact on Nirvana Marrow Transformation prior, then the current possibility was zero.
Over the past six months, Bai Sheng, Gao Yuan, and the absent Ren Tiansheng, had gradually understood this truth in their practice.
Being unable to improve their star-rank in their lifetime bore a major impact for a martial artist unimaginable to outsiders.
Within half a year, Bai Sheng’s eyebrows became a little more elderly, and the same went for his recent smile.
“Haha, it’s nothing!” Bai Sheng slapped hardly on Qin Fen’s shoulder, “Without you, I might not even be able to reach the level six true energy oscillation in my life. Stop blaming yourself, kid! Now, tell me more about your results from this special training.”
Qin Fen looked at Bai Sheng’s chic att.i.tude and piled up a little more blame on himself.
“Fifteen-stars.”
“Fifteen-stars?” Bai Sheng’s olden face was suddenly revitalized with youthfulness, like a smiling child with their favorite toy, “Good, very good! Although… but I, Bai Sheng possess the sharpest insight!”
Bai Sheng happily slapped Qin Fen’s shoulder. T his kid was the one I chose in the recruit compet.i.tion. And now the power level of this kid had reached a power of fifteen-stars before he even turned twenty-years-old! He was arguably one of the fastest martial artists in terms of promotion in the history of the Sacred Martial Hall.
For Qin Fen, Bai Sheng had already started treating him as his own child. Otherwise he wouldn’t have helped under the risk of losing the tomes, and would not have made the bet with Gao Yuan using the martial dao notes as Qin Fen entered the Sacred Martial Hall.
“Senior… I will find a way later…”
“How did you become so sentimental?” Bai Sheng raised his eyebrows in disdain and waved his hand, “Young man, remember this, don’t carry any emotional baggage for me. If you really want to repay me, then train harder to become a divine beast martial artist! If you can become one, wouldn’t I be proud?”
“Yes!” Qin Fen looked up at the blue sky, “The divine beast martial artists, I will do my best to break through to that level.”
“That’s right.” Bai Sheng punched in Qin Fen’s shoulder and smiled, “Kid, what’s your plan after this special training?”
“Meet the super newcomer.” Qin Fen displayed a serious expression with a hint of battle intent, “And also challenge the Martial Madman.”
Challenge the Martial Madman? Everyone couldn’t help but be shocked. After Qin Fen’s special training, not only had his star-cla.s.s power vastly improved, his personality had also unknowingly undergone a major change.
Qin Fen was almost always pa.s.sive by only accepting challenges. Now, he displayed his initiative twice from his speech today. First, he wanted to make a marriage proposal to the Song household, and now another idea popped up in his mind and he wanted to take the initiative to challenge the Martial Madman himself.
“Super newcomer?” Bai Sheng smiled. “About this super newcomer, you should know him.”
Know him? Qin Fen’s eyes brightened up with surprise. Was it Lin Liqiang or Enzo Rota? Did they suffer brain damage and gave up their field of expertise and came to the Sacred Martial Hall to practice martial arts?
“Yes, you know him!” Bai Sheng nodded in agreement, “He is like you, debuted from the recruit contest. Du Peng…”
Du Peng? Qin Fen nodded sullenly. The Du Peng of that day wasn’t qualified to enter the Sacred Martial Hall. But it didn’t mean that he would never be qualified.
Speaking of talent, Du Peng might not be as good as Caesar and others, but he was considered a martial artist with promising potential. If he completed the True Inborn Blood Transfusion Rebirth and entered the ranks of ten-star martial artists, Du Peng would still be considered young and therefore would be a super newcomer in the Sacred Martial Hall.
“Du Peng…” Qin Fen muttered the name of his comrade in his mouth as another name appeared in his mind — Chen Feiyu.
Chen Feiyu, who had no citizens.h.i.+p, should have completed the Blood Transfusion Rebirth by now. Unfortunately due to his citizens.h.i.+p status, he was bound to military service for two years before being eligible to receive citizens.h.i.+p.
“Let’s go and meet Du Peng.”
Qin Fen followed Bai Sheng and walked quickly forward.
At this time, people poked their heads out from time to time from the roadside buildings.
Qin Fen came out! The previous super newcomer team had come out! The news spread faster than the whirlwind as a large number of martial artists received the news.
Everyone wanted to see how the young people turned out after completing the special training.
Curious eyes were on these seemingly exhausted group of young people. However few people would be foolish enough to think that they could be bullied even in this condition.
On the contrary, this exhausted state gave away a powerful aura, sending a message that any challengers would be crushed ruthlessly!
What were the odds now for the current Qin Fen to win a match against the Martial Madman? Everyone poked their heads out and had their eyes on Qin Fen.
Du Peng’s residence was not far from Qin Fen’s building number. The Sacred Martial Hall couldn’t possibly enroll that many martial artists within a short span of six months.
As the crowd closed onto the building, swift but calm footsteps echoed from the building.
More than a dozen young martial artists displayed hostile gazes.
Unlike other martial artists, these people entered the Sacred Martial Hall after Qin Fen’s special training. They had only heard of Qin Fen and his team from other people.
“Eh? No one has come to carry out the glorious tradition for a long time. Seems like there are people who have a death wish today.”
“Haha, you’ve arrived just in time! The building leader hasn’t displayed his wrath for a long time. Seems like these people are wanting to be beaten up.”
“Is it necessary to call the doctor first? When the building leader strikes, it is never a gentle strike.”
“I said, all of you, report your names!”
More than a dozen young martial artists talked non-stop with each other. The person in the forefront position had a slightly bloated body. In this place of martial dao training where most have fit bodies, that body was especially conspicuous.
Moreover, it was also him that requested Qin Fen to submit his name.
“Qin Fen.”
“Caesar.”
“Mourad.”
“Brooks.”
“Yang Lie.”
“…” Solomon retained his usual silence.
…
The previously clamoring young martial artists suddenly went quiet and eyed Qin Fen suspiciously.
In regards to the stormy generation that had appeared in the Sacred Martial Hall, the newcomer martial artists bore great doubts.
In their eyes, the t.i.tle of the Sacred Martial Hall’s strongest newcomer martial artist was only eligible to be claimed by their building leader Du Peng and no one else.
Du Peng’s insolence was what everyone saw with their very own eyes.
Since entering the Sacred Martial Hall, only one stroke of Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder was required for each battle to reduce their opponent to a bloodied state, hospitalizing them for a period of time.
Rumor said that Du Peng did not want to kill, and therefore deliberately limited his force. Or else he could’ve easily split his opponent in half with only a hit.
“You are the past legends of the Sacred Martial Hall?”
Qin Fen couldn’t bring a smile to his face after hearing the question. The legends of these days were really not strong enough. With only half a year, Qin Fen and his team had become legends of the Sacred Martial Hall.
“What are you laughing at? Do you think it is still your era?”
“You’ve arrived at the perfect time! As long as the president defeats you, he will rightfully become the most powerful newcomer in the legend of the Sacred Martial Hall.”
Qin Fen nodded slowly without any rush. It seemed like Du Peng had not only improved his strength, but also his charisma along his star-rank. Every one of these young people capable of entering the Sacred Martial Hall were prideful individuals. It was really an amazing sight for them to admire Du Peng so much.
“Excuse me.”
In the corridor, Du Peng raised his long-lost deep voice.
Just as the young martial artists were creating a path, an intense, saber-like battle intent emitted through the crowd.
Yang Lie quickly looked at each other: “Who shall go first?”
Just as Yang Lie was in the middle of completing his sentence, the crowd had already created a pa.s.sage. The ground of the corridor began to shake violently as a series of footsteps resembling a cavalry charge in an ancient battlefield engulfed Qin Fen’s team that was standing in front of the building.
From the darkness, Du Peng’s pupils shone with brightness, as his rising body resembled a cavalry general from the ancient battlefield. The air and his body produced sounds of friction similar to screaming warhorses as he lightly dragged a saber with his right hand, locking Yang Lie’s soul with his aura.
Du Peng’s sudden strike gave Qin Fen illusory visions. The figure of the deceased Du Zhanpeng seemingly integrated with Du Peng during the strike.
This blow didn’t feel like it came from Du Peng’s, but more like Du Zhanpeng had taken over his body and made the slash.
Warhorses and scimitars! Du Peng resembled the G.o.d of War, Guan Yu from the ancient past as terrified screams rose from wherever his right arm swung!
Du Peng finally understood the essence of the Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Cavalry, which was the essence of slaughter in the ancient battlefield!
Twelve-star! The new martial artists screamed at the top of their lungs. They had never witnessed the Du Peng today although they followed him for a long time. His strength today was much stronger than usual. His suffocating murderous aura showed that he would even be capable of annihilating a Jungle Ranger mobile armor, let alone mortals made of flesh and blood.
Yang Lie displayed a smile in his eyes with a straight posture. It wasn’t the first time he witnessed the Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Cavalry. He lifted his left foot seemingly upright, it was the movement technique from his defeat in the special training, the Dragon-Tiger Movement!
Although the step seemed upright and majestic, it was not a silly step. Yang Lie entered the attack range of Du Peng with only a step, as his shoulders sprung out for a punch the very moment it trembled!
Unexpectedly, this punch also resembled the Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Cavalry, as the striking arm was covered with the suffocating murderous intent from the blood and steel in the ancient battlefield. The air was compressed with freezing coldness, as the punch produced an air pressure visible to the naked eye!
Although it couldn’t channel true energy like Qin Fen, the Little Dragon King, Yang Lie had utilized his true energy specialty of absolute coldness, displaying the channeling of real energy from a punch without the channeling of true energy.
Thirteen-star rank! Du Peng’s eyes flashed with astonishment as the fists of both sides summoned the roars of swords clas.h.i.+ng in ancient battlefields as they slammed into each other!
Boom!
The st.u.r.dy earth trembled continuously. As the ground cracked and vibrations were emitted from the ground, Du Peng’s blood-pumped right arm suddenly became pale. His palm clenched into a fist, causing the hairs on his shoulder to stand, all the while a thick white mist surrounding his arms.
The ice-cold true energy of the New Xuanming Divine Art was forced out by Du Peng in an instant. Yang Lie dashed in front of Du Peng using his Dragon-Tiger Movement and silently placed his left palm to Du Peng’s lower abdomen.
…
The scene was quiet. The young martial artists covered their ears with their hands, staring at the battle that started abruptly and ended in a moment.
Du Peng, the building leader with long-standing insolence was defeated in an instant to the previous legendary newcomer team.
“Du Peng, you’ve become stronger after not seeing you for a few days.” Yang Lie praised him while showing approval with his thumb, “You are really making some rapid progress right there.”
Qin Fen was also shocked by Du Peng’s strength. Twelve-star! Du Peng had reached the strength of twelve-star! Caesar and the others attained the strength of thirteen-stars and entering the apex of the eternal stars only after the special training.
Whether Du Peng’s talent was good or bad was not a secret for Qin Fen’s team. How did he improve so rapidly without the special training of the Asura?
This level of speed would be the level of speed for Caesar and the others if they didn’t go for the special training. There was only one plausible explanation for Du Peng attaining the speed of Caesar before his special training.
Du Peng had now fully accepted the legacy of his brother Du Zhanpeng. As two forces mutually integrated and oscillated with stimulating resonance, he was met with a surge in his strength — and more importantly — his agility was comparable to Caesar and the group before their special training.
In other words, Du Zhanpeng’s legacy had closed the remaining gap of talent between Du Peng and Caesar and the group.
Du Peng withdrew his attacking stance and smiled silently as he walked towards Qin Fen.
Without many words, the open arms led to a big solid hug.
The past inferiority stemming from the gap of power with these people had completely disappeared after the fight. Du Peng had already heard long ago that Caesar and the group had accepted a mysterious yet extremely effective special training to improve their strength.
The newcomer martial artists were all stunned. Why did the building leader fight fiercely with these people, only to hug them one by one after? It seems like they knew each other.
“You are quite powerful. Your talent is no worse than them.”
Fenghua Danyun slowly raised her interested voice. Qin Fen’s happy smile suddenly became stiff. Du Peng was puzzled. Why did his comrade, who never flinched in fierce battles, suddenly become overwhelmed with fear just by hearing such a beautiful voice?
Du Peng looked at other people and found that these people also showed unfortunate expressions.
“Since you know each other, then I will train you along the way.”
Fenghua Danyun walked with a lotus step. Du Peng realized that he didn’t even notice the other person’s figure before she appeared in front of him. Such power was indeed the most shocking to him since entering the Sacred Martial Hall.
Fenghua Danyun gently raised and placed her wrist on Du Peng’s shoulder. Looking back at Qin Fen, she smiled and said, “I will help your friend, how will you repay me?”
“This…” Qin Fen had out of words at the moment. This special training would be very helpful for Du Peng.
Helping a friend with the improvement of their star-power wasn’t usually possible. You may possess talent, but the Asura didn’t have the obligation to help your friends in special training.
Half a year of special training, Qin Fen knew that Asura would like to take a break for a while. Her appearance at this time was an expression of due respect to her former special training members.
“How about this: you will help me in three tasks in the future as an exchange for the training?”
Only three tasks in exchange for Du Peng’s special training! Qin Fen agreed immediately without thinking. To receive special training by Asura… even if you were to carry a mountain of gold to her, you wouldn’t receive her special training if she was unsatisfied.
Such special training could not be bought even with gold. Being able to allow his friends to receive the special training just by doing three tasks, how could Qin Fen resist such an offer?
“Remember it. You promised me.”
Fenghua Danyun’s smile gave a feeling of a child succeeding in their tricks. Without giving Du Peng a chance to resist, she placed her hand on Du Peng and disappeared with him in front of the crowd.
Caesar looked at the direction in which Du Peng disappeared and drew a cross on his chest and said, “May G.o.d bless you.”
Yang Lie looked at Qin Fen, “What are you going to do next?”
“Have a rest.” Qin Fen looked in the direction of the Inner Sacred Martial Hall, “Last time he looked for me, this time it was my turn to find him.”
“Qin Fen…”
Ferrero bore an awkward expression and appeared silently not too far away from the crowd.
“Master?” Qin Fen quickly stepped forward, visibly confused as to why there was an awkward expression on the head’s face, “Xue Tian seemed like he’s looking for you.”
“Xue Tian?” Ferrero’s awkwardness intensified on his face. He clenched his fist in front of his lips and coughed, “I need to talk to you about something.”