Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

The Seven Nations was a land of desolation.

Its borders were encircled by a massive chasm, a deep abyss from which billowed forth a dreadful decaying energy.

To make matters worse, a powerful magnetic field pervaded the region, stripping anyone below the Saint Realm of their ability to fly. Without the guidance of a Saint Realm expert, traversing the Seven Nations was impossible—attempting to do so was tantamount to suicide.

Occasionally, some people did leave the Seven Nations.

Most of these were individuals lucky enough to encounter traveling Saint Realm experts who had come to the desolate region to explore. In the vast East, West, South, and North domains, Saint Realm experts were as numerous as the sands of the sea. A few wandering through the Seven Nations wasn't uncommon.

Some self-righteous old men, believing themselves to be hermits of great wisdom, enjoyed befriending young, talented individuals in the Seven Nations, offering them small favors. After all, a minor act of kindness now could lead to great rewards later—who wouldn't want that?

There were even old devils, hiding their true identities, who might occasionally take on the guise of a kindly old man, rescuing young people from danger. Years later, when the young person discovered that the monstrous villain threatening the world was their benefactor from youth, the resulting turmoil would be unimaginable…

At this moment, Qin Chuan stood at the boundary between the Seven Nations and the Eastern Domain, accompanied by Qin Zi and Zhou Mo. They stood before the abyss.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The abyss was several kilometers wide and pitch black, exuding an overwhelming sense of dread. Below, gray fumes surged upward like a towering wall of wind, standing ominously above the chasm.

"I've heard the magnetic fields here are so strong that anyone below the Saint Realm will be pulled into the abyss if they try to cross. Let me test it out," Qin Zi said.

He grabbed a boulder taller than himself and hurled it towards the far side of the abyss.

Whoosh!

Given his immense strength, the stone should have flown thousands of miles like a meteor under normal circumstances. However, it barely traveled a few meters before being pulled down by an invisible force, plummeting into the abyss.

Within moments, the gray fumes engulfed the rock, reducing it to dust, leaving not even a trace behind.

Gasp!

Qin Zi inhaled sharply, his scalp tingling with fear.

"Good thing I didn't try that myself. Otherwise, I'd be the one turned to ash by now," he muttered, visibly shaken.

"Qin Zi, I told you, only Saint Realm experts can cross this chasm. Even those who have just broken through might fail. You need at least the second level of the Saint Realm to be safe," Zhou Mo said with a chuckle.

Qin Zi laughed awkwardly, realizing how his lack of experience had nearly cost him. Thankfully, Shui Qingrou wasn't around to witness it.

"Let's go."

Qin Chuan remained calm as he waved his hand, summoning a shimmering golden barrier that enveloped the three of them. Slowly, the barrier lifted them into the air, heading towards the far side of the chasm.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

As they crossed, the decaying energy from the abyss assaulted the golden barrier, rapidly corroding it like fire melting wax. At the same time, a tremendous gravitational force rose from the depths, attempting to drag them into the abyss.

However, Qin Chuan's power was immense. He continuously reinforced the golden barrier and resisted the gravitational pull. Even so, their speed slowed significantly, like a small fishing boat struggling against a raging storm.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the other side of the abyss.

"Hahaha! The Eastern Domain—I, Zhou Mo, have returned! This is where I belong, a vast world where I can achieve great things!" Zhou Mo shouted, arms outstretched, breathing in the crisp air of the Eastern Domain.

This time, he felt different.

Before, he had been an insignificant figure in the grand scheme of the Eastern Domain. His sense of inferiority had been overwhelming, bordering on despair. But now, after finding his own path, he had a sudden realization: this entire world belonged to him.

In the vast Eastern Domain, nothing was beyond his reach!

Meanwhile, Qin Chuan silently observed the differences between the Eastern Domain and the Seven Nations.

Indeed, the air here was different.

It was purer, more abundant with spiritual energy, teeming with life. In contrast, the air in the Seven Nations carried a heavy, oppressive force—a silent, decaying energy that stifled everything. That must have been the so-called decaying aura.

"This is the kind of place that's truly fit for cultivation," Qin Zi remarked with a sigh.

Qin Chuan said nothing. Whenever he arrived in a new place or encountered something unfamiliar, he maintained his signature calm demeanor, sometimes even allowing a faint hint of indifference or disdain to show.

No matter how excited or impressed he might actually be—no matter how much he might feel like collapsing in awe—his outward expression always seemed to say, Is this it?

This was Qin Chuan—the ultimate master of maintaining an air of nonchalance.

"Senior, Brother Qin Zi, now that you're in the Eastern Domain, why don't you stay at my family's estate for a few days? Let me show you some real hospitality," Zhou Mo said warmly.

He genuinely felt grateful to Qin Chuan. The respect he had for him was deeply rooted in the fact that Qin Chuan had given him a second chance at life.

Qin Chuan hesitated for a moment before asking, "How are things within your Zhou family? What's the current situation with your branch?"

He knew that large families like the Zhou clan, which had thrived for thousands of years, were often divided into numerous factions, with internal politics being extremely complex.

"Well..."

Zhou Mo scratched his head, a sheepish grin on his face as he avoided eye contact. "The Zhou family is split into over a dozen branches, but my branch is one of the top three, so you'll definitely be treated with respect."

His tone lacked confidence.

Qin Chuan quickly deduced the situation—there were likely serious internal conflicts within the Zhou family. But that was exactly what he wanted!

He enjoyed walking into volatile situations. A harmonious atmosphere with everyone acting politely wouldn't give Qin Zi a chance to stir up trouble or create enemies.

Qin Chuan lived by a simple principle:

Wherever he went, he would never leave empty-handed!

If there was no benefit to be gained, what was the point of going?

"Alright then, since you're so sincere, Qin Zi and I will stay at your place for a few days," Qin Chuan said, pretending to mull it over before smiling.

"Really?!"

Zhou Mo had almost given up hope of convincing them, so Qin Chuan's agreement came as a delightful surprise.

He was truly touched.

Qin Chuan had clearly seen through the family's complexities and knew he might be treated coldly, but he still agreed, respecting Zhou Mo's invitation.

This was true trust!

In that moment, Zhou Mo felt he had gained the approval of someone he deeply respected, and a sense of warmth and satisfaction filled him.

…

The Zhou clan was located in Zhou Tian City.

The city was resplendent with grandeur, its palaces sprawling like celestial fortresses, radiating an overwhelming sense of majesty.

As Zhou Mo had mentioned, the Zhou family was considered a second-tier power in the grand scheme of the Eastern Domain. But in reality…

The territories under the Zhou family's control were the size of over ten Nine Suns Dynasties combined, with countless sects and noble families under their rule.

The Zhou family was a behemoth.

However, size was always relative.

For example, in the Nine Suns Dynasty, the Seven Martial Sect was a towering power. But in the Eastern Domain, it was at the very bottom of the food chain.

Zhou Mo's previous feelings of inferiority stemmed from constantly comparing himself to the elite geniuses of first-tier powers, and even the monstrous talents of the imperial clans. In such a comparison, it was only natural for him to feel utterly defeated…

When Qin Chuan and his group arrived at the Zhou estate, a middle-aged man led a large entourage of servants to greet them warmly.

"Hahaha! Welcome, Brother Qin! I apologize for not greeting you sooner. I am Zhou Cang, Zhou Mo's father. I cannot thank you enough for saving my son's life!"

Clearly, Zhou Mo had informed his family in advance, and they had agreed to explain the relationship by presenting Qin Chuan as Zhou Mo's savior.

After all, he couldn't very well introduce him as the one who had set him on the path of theft, could he?