Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

On this day, the Xuantian Treasury closed.

Then, a shocking piece of news spread—Jiang Shennong, the young master of the Jiang family, had died in the Xuantian Treasury!

The exact cause of death remained unknown.

Some speculated that he died during a trial, others suggested he triggered a trap, while some claimed… Qin Zi killed him!

After all, the two had clashed before the treasury opened, and Qin Zi had already defeated Jiang Shennong once. He had both the motive and the strength!

Some argued that Qin Zi wouldn't be so foolish as to kill Jiang Shennong so blatantly, but others countered that perhaps he did it deliberately to create a "hiding in plain sight" effect.

But one thing was certain—there was no evidence!

Not even a corpse remained. If it weren't for Jiang Shennong's soul lamp in the family going out, they might have assumed he was just missing.

This left the situation in an intriguing place.

Would the Jiang family, without evidence, dare to confront the ruthless Qin Chuan?

...

At Shenxia Mountain.

Qin Zi returned in a disheveled state and hurried to report the events of the Xuantian Treasury to his father, along with the rumors circulating outside.

But in truth, Qin Chuan was already well aware of everything, having returned home slightly before his son.

Moreover, Qin Chuan had gained access to the Lu family's secret treasury and had used his vast wealth to subscribe to a premium intelligence service—a legitimate source. The service was run by the largest intelligence network in the Eastern Domain and sent out breaking news via remote transmission jade slips. Anything major happening in the Eastern Domain would be published there immediately for him to see.

This was the power of money!

"Father, what do we do now? The Jiang family is bound to suspect me. I didn't kill him, but it's impossible to clear my name… and the Jiang family has World Sovereign-level experts. If things really escalate…"

Qin Zi was pacing in circles, his anxiety palpable.

He had no fear in openly defeating Jiang Shennong, but he dared not kill him. After all, there was a vast difference between competing with peers and committing murder.

By defeating Jiang Shennong, the Jiang family's World Sovereigns would still hesitate to target a junior like him. But if he had killed Jiang Shennong, they would have ample reason to act.

Even though he didn't commit the murder, suspicion alone could be fatal.

Smack!

Qin Chuan slapped his son's shoulder, calming him down. "What's the rush? Your father is here."

"But father, your injuries…"

Qin Zi remembered that his father had suffered severe damage to his dao foundation when he forcibly recovered to the Ninth Heavenly Layer to fend off the Lu family. He had spent a considerable amount of time in seclusion to heal. Qin Zi feared that his father's wounds still hadn't fully recovered, and if he pushed himself again…

The consequences could be dire.

He was deeply concerned.

His master was worried too.

"Hmm, not fully healed, but it's nothing serious," Qin Chuan said nonchalantly.

Though his tone was casual, Qin Zi could hear a heavy undertone.

He thought it was just his imagination, but deep down, he knew it wasn't—his father had been silently bearing a burden he knew nothing about.

"Don't overthink it. I'm really fine," Qin Chuan said, sensing what his son was thinking. He smiled warmly and added, "Even if there was something wrong, so what? Protecting my son is more than within my abilities. As long as you didn't do anything wrong, no one can frame you with me around!"

Hearing these words, Qin Zi bit his lip, his nose tingling.

He now understood for certain that his father's injuries weren't fully healed. Yet even in this state, his father was still shielding him, ensuring that he didn't suffer any unjust harm…

"I must get stronger, much stronger, so I don't drag Father down!!"

He roared this vow in his heart.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. "Father, I passed the trial in the Xuantian Treasury and obtained an imperial weapon. You don't have an imperial weapon right now, so please take it."

Such a filial son!

Qin Chuan was inwardly overjoyed. His right hand almost reached out, palm up, but he quickly corrected himself and patted Qin Zi's head instead.

"The thought alone makes me happy, but I don't need it. You should keep it for your own protection."

He smiled with satisfaction on the outside, while inside, he sighed in relief—that was close!

If he had taken his son's imperial weapon, wouldn't that have diminished his image? What kind of invincible strongman would need to borrow an imperial weapon from his own son? That would be no different from sponging off someone!

Sure, his son had offered the weapon out of love and wouldn't overthink it, but such things could subtly alter their relationship.

It's like when you give someone a gift, and they accept it without hesitation, never giving anything in return—over time, your opinion of them lowers.

Besides, having his son hold the imperial weapon was perfect for manipulating future events.

Boom!

Just then, a thunderous noise echoed in the sky, followed by a cold, authoritative voice reverberating through the air.

"Qin Chuan, hand over Qin Zi!"

"Father!" Qin Zi's face turned pale.

Qin Chuan patted his shoulder calmly and said, "Don't worry, let's see what tricks they try."

"Okay." Qin Zi nodded, gaining confidence from his father's towering figure by his side.

The father and son walked out together.

As they stepped outside, they saw a dozen figures floating above Shenxia Mountain. At the forefront was a middle-aged man in a black python robe, bearing a striking resemblance to Jiang Shennong.

This was likely Jiang Shennong's father.

Or possibly his uncle.

"You're from the Jiang family?" Qin Chuan asked calmly, looking at the black-robed man.

"Since you've figured it out, hand over your son! He murdered my nephew, Jiang Shennong, and he must pay for it!" The black-robed man's face was filled with killing intent.

"And you are Jiang Shennong's…?" Qin Chuan asked.

"His uncle!" the black-robed man huffed.

"Why didn't his father come himself? Why are you in such a rush?" A teasing smirk appeared on Qin Chuan's face.

Uncle and nephew looking so alike? I bet your surname is Ouyang!

The black-robed man's expression twitched slightly, a flicker of panic crossing his face, as if some dark secret had been exposed.

But he quickly regained his composure and snorted, "My elder brother is attending to other matters… That's none of your concern!"

"I see…" Qin Chuan said meaningfully, then continued, "I understand how you must feel, but Jiang Shennong was not killed by Qin Zi. You should go back."

"You say he didn't do it?!" The black-robed man's eyes flashed sharply as he pressed on.

"And does your claim that he did make it true?" Qin Chuan responded calmly. His demeanor was light, yet his presence completely overpowered the man.

The black-robed man stiffened slightly. Remembering Qin Chuan's "terrifying" power, he backed down a bit, his arrogance dimming. "You have no proof that Qin Zi didn't kill him!"

"And you have no proof that Qin Zi did," Qin Chuan replied with equal calm.

"We can determine whether he did or didn't by taking him back and using memory-searching techniques!" the black-robed man said, regaining some of his aggressive tone.

"You think you can just take him? On what grounds?" Qin Chuan's smile turned cold.

"On the grounds that my Jiang family is a flourishing royal clan with a World Sovereign overseeing us!"

At the mention of "World Sovereign," the black-robed man straightened his back as if the mere words gave him newfound strength.

Slash!!

But in the next instant, his right arm was severed cleanly at the shoulder, and a blade of light shot up into the sky, cutting through the clouds.

"Ah!! You—!"

The black-robed man turned pale, his face contorting in pain. Even the elderly "masters of loneliness" who had accompanied him snapped their eyes open in shock, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads.

That strike was terrifying!

An unrivaled sharpness coupled with lightning speed—it could have killed any Ninth Heavenly Layer Saint in an instant.

"Haha, doesn't your Jiang family have a World Sovereign? Well, I've just severed your arm. Let's see if your World Sovereign dares to come after me!" Qin Chuan laughed mockingly, then coldly added, "I'll say this one last time—Jiang Shennong wasn't killed by Qin Zi. If you so much as lay a finger on my son without proof, I will wipe out your entire clan! Don't believe me? Go ahead and try!"

"Now, get lost."

The members of the Jiang family looked at each other, their faces filled with both shame and anger, but none dared to speak.

Finally, they left, bitterly.

Watching them retreat, Qin Zi sighed inwardly.

This "World Sovereign Possession" ability was truly something—he had just tapped into a World Sovereign Power