Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Faced with this sudden request to become a disciple, Qin Chuan was momentarily taken aback.

Originally, he just wanted to pull off some light-hearted persuasion, gaining a bit of goodwill, because he knew that such eccentric individuals in the cultivation world were rarely simple.

They often had extraordinary potential.

But he hadn't expected the other person to be so direct, immediately placing him in the role of a master.

This put a lot of pressure on him!

A teacher, after all, is supposed to pass down knowledge, impart teachings, and solve doubts. But it seemed like he didn't really have anything to teach Zhou Xiang, especially since their areas of expertise were completely different.

If he accepted Zhou Xiang as a disciple, it might end up doing more harm than good.

Of course, the most important concern was that if he accepted the role of teacher, he'd eventually have to pass down some techniques. And that could easily expose him.

Just like how "the more you say, the more likely you are to make a mistake."

So, after thinking it over for a while, Qin Chuan decided to help Zhou Xiang stand up, smiling as he said, "If you insist, then I won't stop you. But I won't treat you as my disciple, nor will I teach you anything. There is nothing I can teach you. The path you walk is one you must navigate yourself."

"Disciple understands!"

Zhou Xiang nodded earnestly and said, "This disciple doesn't seek to learn from the master, but rather, it's a matter of respect."

"The mere existence of a teacher is enough motivation for a disciple like me. It helps me stay firm in my beliefs, undeterred by the doubts of others."

For Zhou Xiang, this was not so much about establishing a traditional master-disciple relationship, but more about creating a spiritual anchor for himself.

After all…

Throughout his journey, Qin Chuan was the only person who had truly understood him, supported him, and shared a similar vision.

This person had traveled further down a path that closely mirrored his own, serving as a guiding light through his struggles.

After some thought, Zhou Xiang respectfully asked, "Master, may I ask what path you walk?"

Qin Chuan had already prepared for this. Without hesitation, he replied, "It's simple. I walk the path of benevolence and compassion. You offer salvation to pigs, while I… offer salvation to the human world."

Zhou Xiang seemed a bit confused and asked, "Master, is your purpose to distinguish between good and evil in the world, to punish the wicked and promote the good?"

"No, that's just a minor path."

Qin Chuan shook his head with a slight smile, his eyes reflecting a deep, profound wisdom. He then asked in a contemplative tone, "How do we distinguish between good and evil in the world?"

"For instance, if someone harbors evil intentions but lives their entire life as a good person, doing good deeds without ever committing a crime, would they be considered a good person or a bad person?"

"Conversely, if someone has the purest of hearts but, due to circumstances beyond their control, ends up causing mass destruction, leaving families broken and lives ruined, would they be seen as good or bad?"

"Furthermore, if someone intended to massacre an entire city but, through a twist of fate, ended up saving it, should they be considered a hero?"

"On the other hand, if someone tried to save a city but failed due to a lack of power, ultimately causing the deaths of countless people, should they be vilified by the masses?"

"Finally, if someone planned to poison and kill another, but inadvertently saved them through poison acting as an antidote, would that be considered a good deed or an evil one?"

Zhou Xiang stood frozen, deep in thought.

Qin Chuan continued, "That is why good and evil in this world cannot be easily distinguished. Nor should they be."

"Take your actions, for example. When you slaughter pigs, you don't concern yourself with which pig is good or evil, which one is picky, or which one is gentle. These distinctions don't matter to you."

"You stand at the end of their lives, and through your unique way, you give their existence new meaning."

"In the same way, I use my methods to attempt to give new meaning to this world, to bestow new purpose upon mankind."

"Of course, no one may understand my actions right now. Some may even think I'm doing nothing at all, or that I'm acting erratically, or worse — committing evil."

"The reason is that the benefits of what I do won't be felt until far into the future. It's like planting a seed today that will only bear fruit a hundred years from now."

"At the moment, people only see me digging up the earth and disrupting the soil. They have no way of understanding what I'm truly doing."

"Just like people don't understand why you slaughter pigs. They can't comprehend the purpose behind your actions."

"They think you're wasting your life, that you've lost your way, that you've given up on your family, and abandoned your responsibilities..."

Qin Chuan paused, looking at Zhou Xiang with meaningful eyes. "Do you understand now?"

Understand?

How could he?

There was no way Zhou Xiang fully grasped it!

In fact, Qin Chuan hadn't really said much at all. Afraid of being exposed and losing credibility, he deliberately spewed a bunch of vague, high-sounding words.

It all sounded profound, but in reality, it was all empty.

The core message was simple — no one can understand what I'm doing, just as no one understands you slaughtering pigs.

This way, not only did Qin Chuan maintain his aura of mystery and grandeur, leaving Zhou Xiang in a fog of confusion, but he also managed to strike a chord, gaining Zhou Xiang's admiration and respect.

Zhou Xiang's breathing grew heavier, as if his mind was racing to process Qin Chuan's words.

After a long while, he respectfully bowed and said, "Master, I think I understand, but not fully."

"However, I can vaguely sense that the path you walk is much more difficult than mine. At the very least, my path isn't met with much resistance, but you… must face countless obstacles from the human world."

"Master, if you ever need anything, simply give the order. This disciple will use this blade to cut down all obstacles in your way!"

He reached out his right hand, and the butcher knife that had been stuck in the butcher's block trembled violently before flying into his grip.

Buzz!

In that moment, Zhou Xiang's aura merged with the butcher knife, both of them bathed in a golden glow.

This was the Blade of Compassion!

The knife appeared ordinary, but Qin Chuan could sense an overwhelming danger from it.

Even he felt his scalp tingle with unease.

"This guy is even more of a monster than I thought!" Qin Chuan was internally stunned. He realized that he had truly struck gold this time.

It was a massive win.

Of course, it wasn't just pure luck. There was a bit of logic behind it — true geniuses often don't have the highest emotional intelligence.

Just like those coders back on Earth. They were undoubted geniuses but could be easily manipulated by their bosses to work long hours, even losing their hair in the process.

"Ah! Shang'er! You brat, I'm going to kill you!!"

At that moment, a furious roar filled with killing intent echoed from the distance.

And the next instant, the earth began to shake, and blinding light exploded in the sky, as the heavens and earth seemed to tremble.

A battle had erupted at the Saint Realm!

"That was the Second Elder's voice," Zhou Xiang said with a frown.

"It could be something that happened to Qin Zi. I'll go take a look," Qin Chuan said, his expression turning serious before flying toward the source of the commotion.

"Master, I'll go with you!"

Zhou Xiang secured his butcher knife at his waist and took to the skies, following behind Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan was fast. In just a few breaths, he arrived at the scene. The battle had already subsided.

To be more precise, it had been stopped by others. Several powerful elders had stepped in to separate Zhou Cang and the red-haired elder.

An elderly woman in green robes was tending to a comatose young man on a stretcher. That young man was none other than Zhou Shang, the red-haired elder's grandson, and the Zhou family's so-called first genius!

"Qin Chuan! Your son has crippled my grandson. If I don't get justice for this, both you and your son will pay with your lives!"

The red-haired elder's eyes turned bloodshot when he saw Qin Chuan, and he roared with rage, wanting to charge at him.

But one of the other elders blocked his way.

In truth, the elder barely exerted any effort. And yet, despite the red-haired elder's seemingly desperate attempt to break through, he couldn't take a single step forward...

"Hmph! You old fool, do you think because you're ugly, you can just throw away your face like that? It was your grandson who tried to kill me first and ended up being harmed by the Phoenix Fire Nest's formations. Now you want to frame me?"

Qin Zi shot back, unwilling to show weakness.

The moment he saw his father arrive, he suddenly felt invincible, like a fearless husky by its owner's side, ready to bark at anyone!