Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Everyone, Kneel Before Me!
The woman referred to as "Junior Sister Liu Xi" trembled slightly, biting her lip in frustration.
The Ancestor's Stele!
This stele was discovered not long ago by both Dongsheng Divine Sect and East Emperor Hall while exploring their ancestral lands. It contained various profound mysteries.
The sect's leadership had decided to offer the stele for the top ten most outstanding young talents in the sect to comprehend for a few days.
The first nine had already been selected.
However, the final spot was contested between two talents of equal strength, neither willing to concede.
Thus, today's duel was arranged!
"Hahaha, Junior Sister Liu Xi, no need to be upset. If you miss this chance, perhaps there will be another in the future."
The victorious young man laughed, his tone filled with magnanimity—such was the privilege of the victor, to appear graceful and refined.
"I'll beat you next time."
Liu Xi pursed her lips, her voice quiet, as she climbed to her feet and flew off into the distance.
"I'll be waiting."
The victorious youth smiled warmly, watching her leave. Then, as he basked in the admiration of the onlookers, he prepared to make a grand exit.
At that moment, a voice interrupted.
"Not bad, not bad."
The voice was sincere, like that of a venerable elder praising a younger generation. It even carried a trace of warmth.
However, why did this voice sound so… young?!
The crowd all turned their heads simultaneously and saw a handsome young man in black, hovering in the air, looking down at the victor with a pleased expression.
"Who are you?"
The victorious youth frowned. The gaze of this newcomer—overlooking him from above—made him uncomfortable.
Especially that approving look. It wasn't condescending, but it was a natural superiority, as if he were inherently above him.
"Take a guess."
Qin Zi smiled faintly, his expression kind.
The young man scrutinized Qin Zi, mentally running through the talented individuals in the sect, but no one matched.
"Who are you really?"
The youth's tone grew cold.
"Hahaha, young people shouldn't be so quick to anger."
Qin Zi shook his head, still smiling.
"My name is Qin Zi. Now, does that ring a bell?"
Boom!
The crowd gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.
Some even instinctively covered their mouths.
Everyone stared at Qin Zi but remained silent. They had all heard the rumors of this "disciple of Yu Huang," but no one knew for sure if they were true or how the sect viewed them. No one dared to speak out of turn.
"So, it's you!!"
The youth's expression turned serious. He had naturally heard of Qin Zi—the name had been spreading like wildfire recently.
"What do you mean, 'it's me'? Is that how you greet your Martial Uncle? Have you no manners?"
Qin Zi frowned, his tone becoming more authoritative.
"Martial Uncle? Manners?"
The young man's face darkened. It felt like this person was deliberately toying with him. After all, many people doubted the truth of the rumors.
But aware of the delicate situation, he didn't dare tear down the pretense. Instead, he said,
"I, Ding Shan, respect strength, not empty titles."
"We are of similar age, so let's settle this with strength! If you can defeat me, then you'll have the right to speak to me from above. But if not… you should drop that superior attitude!"
"Hmm?"
Qin Zi's eyes flashed with cold light, his expression turning severe as he shouted,
"Only strength matters to you? Does that mean you can ignore the hierarchy of elders and juniors, disrespect your seniors, as long as you're strong enough?"
"By that logic, if a senior of the sect loses all their cultivation and becomes weak, are you suggesting that they should be treated like an ant and humiliated at will?!"
"Dongsheng Divine Sect has stood for ten thousand years. Since when did it foster such arrogance and disrespect for elders?"
"You want to challenge me to test my worth, to see if I'm qualified to hold this status, don't you?"
"Well, I refuse to fight you! I won't give you the satisfaction! Today, I'll use my seniority to make a point. I want to see if, as a mere junior, you will acknowledge the rules of this sect and show me the proper respect!"
Qin Zi's voice boomed out, turning the situation into a matter of sect discipline and elder respect. The young man before him was left dumbfounded.
"I… I didn't…"
The young man, who had been defiant moments earlier, was now sweating profusely, realizing his mistake.
Disrespecting elders? Could he admit to that?
The words he'd spoken in anger earlier were now being used against him, and there was no taking them back.
"I respect all elders of the sect. Even if they are injured, they remain my seniors, and I would naturally pay them the proper respect! But… who exactly are you?"
The youth gritted his teeth.
"So you're questioning my identity? Are you implying that Yu Huang's public declaration is a lie?"
Qin Zi's tone became sharp, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"I…"
The young man's forehead broke out in cold sweat. His heart pounded, realizing he had just escaped one pit only to fall into a deeper one.
Could he question Yu Huang?
Everyone could see through Yu Huang's open scheme, but who dared to expose it? That would be an unprecedented scandal!
If Dongsheng Divine Sect itself exposed the truth, it would be a disgrace beyond measure. Yu Huang's reputation would be in tatters, and the sect would be shamed for eternity!
Even the sect master, Su Xuanlong, couldn't afford to bear such a consequence!
That's why Su Xuanlong had endured the pain of slapping his own daughter earlier—he couldn't afford to expose the truth.
"So, what's your answer? Am I, or am I not, the Martial Uncle of Dongsheng Divine Sect?"
Qin Zi's voice rang out with authority.
"You… are!!!"
The young man couldn't hesitate. He practically roared the words, his neck flushed, his eyes red with suppressed tears.
It was like watching a rebellious recruit being crushed into submission by a drill sergeant—resentful, but forced to obey.
"Since that's the case, will you or will you not follow the sect's rules? Will you kneel when you see your Martial Uncle?"
Qin Zi continued to press, his voice filled with dominance.
"I… will kneel!!"
The young man's voice trembled as he dropped to his knees, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, his pride utterly shattered.
Boom!
A man's pride was worth its weight in gold, but today, his dignity was crushed beneath his knees.
The disciples watching from the sidelines looked on with mixed feelings—some sighed, others shook their heads in dismay.
One of their top ten geniuses had been forced to kneel before an outsider, his honor torn apart. What a bitter fate…
Then Qin Zi turned his gaze toward the gathered disciples, his brow furrowing as he asked,
"And why aren't any of you kneeling?"
Boom!
The disciples who had been feeling sympathy for the kneeling youth froze, their faces twitching…