Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
The entire discussion hall fell utterly silent—you could hear a pin drop. Every pair of eyes was fixed on Qin Chuan, unable to look away for a long time.
“Wasn’t Qin Chuan’s bloodline and dantian already destroyed? How is he still this powerful?”
“He looks even more terrifying than during his prime!”
Everyone knew Qin Feng possessed the Four-Star Earth Wolf Bloodline and had already reached the 1st stage of the Profound Realm. In Guiyun City, that strength was enough to earn him a prominent reputation. Yet he couldn’t even withstand a single blow from Qin Chuan.
“Ah! Qin Chuan! I’ll kill you! I’ll avenge Feng’er!”
The Great Elder’s eyes turned blood-red as he stared at Qin Feng’s lifeless body. His Profound Energy surged wildly, and he charged at Qin Chuan in a fury.
BOOM!
In the next moment, Qin Zhantian appeared in front of Qin Chuan and struck with a palm, forcing the Great Elder several meters back. Looking at the crazed expression on the Great Elder’s face, Qin Zhantian remained expressionless as he said, “Since Qin Feng dared to challenge the position of young master, he could only blame himself for his fate.”
“Very well, very well…” The Great Elder slowly calmed down upon hearing this, laughing from sheer rage. He knew that within the Qin family, there was nothing he could do to Qin Chuan anymore.
His eyes gleamed with malice as he glared at Qin Chuan and said coldly, “Qin Chuan, do you dare to accept a life-and-death duel with me?”
“Qin Kun!” Qin Zhantian’s face turned furious. “Have you lost all shame? As the Great Elder, you’d stoop so low as to challenge a junior to a life-and-death battle?!”
The crowd in the hall immediately revealed looks of contempt. Everyone knew that the Great Elder was at the 3rd stage of the Profound Master Realm—it was clearly bullying.
But the Great Elder ignored their judgment. His eyes stayed locked on Qin Chuan as he sneered, “What’s wrong? Scared?”
Qin Chuan smiled faintly and said, “Fine, I accept. Let’s set the time—seven days from now.”
He stared back at Qin Kun without any fear. Qin Zhantian wanted to say something to stop him, but after seeing Qin Chuan shake his head, he swallowed his words.
Seven days…
The Great Elder’s face instantly turned grim. That was the very same time Qin Feng had intended to suggest earlier.
“Good! Seven days it is!” The Great Elder let out a cold laugh. “I don’t know if you’re just ignorant or hiding some trump card, but no matter what, seven days from now, you’ll be buried with Feng’er!”
With a sweep of his sleeve, the Great Elder left with Qin Feng’s corpse.
After he departed, Qin Zhantian turned to Qin Chuan with joy. “Chuan’er, your cultivation…”
Qin Chuan smiled and nodded. “Though I haven’t fully recovered my former strength, I’m no longer hindered.”
“Excellent! That’s all that matters!” Qin Zhantian was overjoyed, unable to hide his excitement. But his joy didn’t last long. He soon recalled the Great Elder’s character.
Qin Zhantian knew Qin Kun was someone who held grudges. Now that Qin Chuan had killed his grandson in front of everyone, there was no way he would let it go.
With a hint of worry, he asked, “Chuan’er, how confident are you in facing Qin Kun?”
Qin Chuan slowly raised his hand and brought two fingers together.
Qin Zhantian’s eyes widened. “Twenty percent?”
Qin Chuan gave a smirk and calmly said, “I’ve got him in the bag.”
…
After leaving the discussion hall, Qin Chuan returned straight to his courtyard.
Although he spoke confidently earlier, the Great Elder was still a 3rd stage Profound Master. To ensure absolute victory, he needed to use the time left to improve his strength as much as possible.
Even while he was away, Xiaolan had kept the place spotless. Not a speck of dust could be found inside the room.
After sending the girl to prepare food, Qin Chuan sat cross-legged and, with a thought, entered the Heaven and Earth Spirit Furnace space.
Before he left the Abyss of Buried Heavens, Empress Yaoxi had told him that due to their Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation, he had become half the master of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Furnace and could enter this space whenever he wished.
Time flowed a hundred times faster here than in the outside world, making it a place where cultivating yielded results at lightning speed.
“Senior Yaoxi?” Qin Chuan called out a few times, but no response came from the vast space.
As she had said earlier, she must have already entered seclusion for her life-or-death cultivation.
Without delay, Qin Chuan sat down and began cultivating.
The spiritual energy in the Furnace space was dense, far surpassing anything in the current world. Coupled with his heaven-defying Ten-Star Vermilion Bird Bloodline and its absorption capacity, his progress in cultivation was astonishing.
It could be said that in this space, Qin Chuan was getting stronger with every passing moment.
In just a short time, he felt his Profound Energy surge. A mighty aura gradually rose from within him.
While Qin Chuan cultivated—
In the outside world, at the Qin family estate, an old man rushed into the Great Elder’s room with excitement and reported, “Great Elder! I’ve found out the reason Qin Chuan lost his bloodline!”
The Great Elder opened his eyes abruptly. “Is the information reliable?”
“Very reliable!” The old man nodded. “Someone saw with their own eyes that Qin Chuan was stopped by the Azure Thunder Sect. Although they couldn’t see clearly from afar, shortly afterward, Qin Chuan left looking devastated. It’s very likely that the Azure Thunder Sect is involved in stripping him of his bloodline!”
“So that’s it! No wonder that brat never told the Qin family who did it. Turns out it was the Azure Thunder Sect—that colossal force!” the Great Elder sneered coldly.
To be stripped of one’s bloodline was akin to killing one’s parents. A blood feud had been formed between Qin Chuan and the Azure Thunder Sect.
The Great Elder suddenly looked up and murmured, “I’ve heard that the Young Master of the Azure Thunder Sect will be arriving in Guiyun City in the coming days?”
The old man cupped his fists and said, “That’s right. The Young Master will be here soon.”
Suddenly realizing the implication, he asked, “Great Elder, are you planning to…”
The Great Elder nodded and sneered. “Exactly. Send word to the Azure Thunder Sect—tell them that Qin Chuan, who possesses the Six-Star Flame Tiger Bloodline, has regained his cultivation and is openly declaring revenge against the entire Azure Thunder Sect! I doubt they’ll ignore such a provocation.”
His cold and sinister voice echoed throughout the room.
…
Back inside the Heaven and Earth Spirit Furnace.
In a flash, fifty days had passed, though only half a day had gone by in the outside world.
At this moment, Qin Chuan’s Profound Energy surged like a storm. Moments later, he felt a sudden ease in his body. The energy within him had become several times denser than before.
“4th stage of the Profound Realm.”
Feeling the abundant Profound Energy within, Qin Chuan clenched his fists as a bright gleam flashed in his eyes.
As expected of a Ten-Star bloodline—his breakthrough speed was terrifying.
Just as he prepared to continue his training, his brow furrowed and he withdrew from the space.
Outside his courtyard, there were chaotic footsteps approaching.
BANG!
A loud crash echoed as the courtyard gate was kicked open. A young man in ornate robes stormed in with two attendants, their presence aggressive.
“Qin Chuan! I heard you, that good-for-nothing, actually survived and came back?”
The intruder was named Qin Xuan, grandson of the Fifth Elder. He often bullied others alongside Qin Feng and had already reached the 8th stage of Body Refinement Realm. While Qin Chuan’s dantian was ruined, Qin Xuan had been one of the loudest in mocking him.
“Now that you’re back, hand over Xiaolan’s deed. Do that, and I might spare your life.”
The snakefolk were known for their ugly appearance, but Xiaolan was one of the rare ones who matched human aesthetics. Many people collected such snakewomen to satisfy their twisted desires.
In the past, Qin Xuan wouldn’t have dared act up, knowing Qin Chuan was the Qin family’s young master. But now, with Qin Chuan crippled and his position under review, Qin Xuan had lost all fear and came straight to the door.
Seeing him arrive, Qin Chuan stood up, walked to the door, glanced at him, and said with an amused smile, “So, it seems you haven’t heard what happened to Qin Feng today?”
“What happened to Qin Feng?” Qin Xuan blinked in confusion, lifting his head.