Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Princess Chu Yun didn't expect her father to suddenly ask such a tricky question, but she answered honestly.

"Father, after I escaped from those assassins, I encountered a mysterious man in a black robe who tried to kill me. He knocked me unconscious."

"When I woke up, I found myself lying by a small river... It was a rogue swordsman who saved me from the black-robed man."

"The swordsman didn't give his name, saying he was just an unknown person who drew his sword to help when he saw injustice."

"After parting ways with that swordsman, I heard that you had mobilized troops to the Seven Martial Sect, so I hurried here to stop you."

At this point, she anxiously added, "This is all a misunderstanding! Qin Zi is not a bad person, he is my benefactor!!"

The scene fell silent once again.

The previously aggressive Yang Tu could no longer maintain his forceful demeanor. He now resembled a wilted eggplant... completely deflated.

His expression was stiff, with no apparent movement, but in his mind, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck.

Various thoughts flooded into his not-so-large brain almost instantly, leaving him in a state of confusion.

Could it be a mistake? Qin Zi wasn't the enemy but rather a benefactor?

After all this time, not only had he been humiliated at the Seven Martial Sect, but he also ended up slapping himself in the face, losing both dignity and face?

And the most serious matter was that if what his daughter said was true, then everything Qin Chuan had said earlier would be confirmed. This would mean that the man, who was of a similar age to him, was indeed his... uncle?!

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"

He disdainfully flicked his sleeve, as if mocking a lowly lie, then turned around and roared, "We're leaving!!"

With that, he turned and led the way back in the direction they had come from, with the army retreating with a thunderous rumble.

"Father!"

Princess Chu Yun called out, but her usually doting father did not respond to her.

Left with no other choice, she awkwardly smiled at Qin Chuan and apologized, "Please don't worry. I will persuade my father to join the search for Qin Zi, Qin... Grandfather."

The term of address felt awkward on her tongue.

Meanwhile, far off in the distance, where it seemed impossible to hear anything, Yang Tu suddenly stiffened, and the corner of his mouth twitched violently...

...

Soon, the people of the Southern Prince's Residence had all departed.

In the sky outside the Seven Martial Sect, only Qin Chuan, Grand Elder Jia Tianhe, and Sect Master Zhao Panlong remained.

"Apologies, my personal matters have caused trouble for the sect."

Qin Chuan cupped his hands apologetically.

"You are an elder of the Seven Martial Sect. Your matters are naturally our matters," Zhao Panlong said with a slight smile.

Jia Tianhe was somewhat surprised, as the Sect Master was usually reserved and rarely smiled at anyone.

"Phew... thank you." Qin Chuan exhaled deeply, then smiled bitterly.

He had to admit, he felt somewhat touched.

"Do you need the sect's help in finding Qin Zi?" Zhao Panlong asked.

"No need. I left something on that boy. It won't be difficult to find him. I'll be on my way now."

Qin Chuan smiled and politely declined, then flew off in a direction, quickly disappearing beyond the horizon.

"Sect Master..."

Jia Tianhe looked at Zhao Panlong.

The latter gazed in the direction where Qin Chuan had disappeared, his eyes flickering for a moment, then he calmly said, "Let's head back."

With that, he flew back toward the inner part of the Seven Martial Sect. However, his curiosity about Qin Chuan grew even stronger.

This new elder of theirs was exceedingly mysterious...

...

Among the mountains.

In a deep and hidden cave, flames roared, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

A bare figure sat cross-legged, with strange dark red flames burning on his body.

As the flames burned, his body was being tempered, large amounts of blood evaporating and turning into a blood-red mist that spewed from his pores.

The shattered bones within him were being burned away, and under the stimulation of the life-filled flames, new bones began to grow.

Like a process of renewal.

His injuries, which had nearly cost him his life, were not only healing rapidly, but his physical body was also growing stronger.

Who knows how long it took.

The dark red flames on the surface of his body finally receded, and his iron-hot, fiery red body returned to its normal color.

"Phew, I made it through."

Qin Zi let out a heavy breath. The previous battle with those five assassins had cost him dearly, nearly killing him.

Fortunately, he had the life-saving secret technique taught by his master. Although the process was painful, the result was worth it.

"Sigh, you're still too impulsive. If you hadn't fought them head-on, you wouldn't have suffered such a loss."

A blonde woman's voice scolded.

"Hehe, but I made it through, didn't I? And I've even taken it to the next level. In a few days, I'll be able to break through to the Nirvana Realm."

Qin Zi chuckled awkwardly.

"This time you were just lucky. If the injuries had been any worse, you might not have made it through. You can't always rely on luck."

The blonde woman lectured sternly.

"I know, I know!"

Having conversed with his master for a long time, he was well aware that arguing with her was never a wise choice.

Regardless of whether he could do it or not.

Just agree first!

"Let's go, we need to head back. It's been so long, your father must be worried," the blonde woman sighed, knowing her disciple was just being perfunctory but unable to do anything about it.

"Mm."

Qin Zi nodded at her words and prepared to leave the cave he had inadvertently discovered.

However, at that moment, an evil voice rang out.

"Hahaha, I can't believe my luck! Just escaped and already found such a fresh meal."

Qin Zi's expression changed drastically as he quickly turned to see a stone wall at the cave's depths suddenly crack open.

Dark cracks spread like spider webs, and a large amount of black gas seeped out from the cracks.

"This is bad, we need to leave!"

The blonde woman's voice sounded, and she immediately activated the "Ghost Possession" skill, taking control of Qin Zi's body to flee.

However, it was already too late.

Boom!!

The stone wall, covered in spiderweb-like cracks, exploded, and a torrent of black gas surged forth like a flood.

Its momentum was overwhelming.

In an instant, Qin Zi's body was engulfed by the tidal wave of black gas and was swept out of the cave.

"Ugh!"

Qin Zi landed on the grass outside the cave, as if struck by a mountain, kneeling on one knee with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Opposite him, the dense black gas continued to condense and shrink, eventually taking the form of a sinister, withered old man.

This man was gaunt, with gray-white skin and almost all of his hair gone, resembling a corpse dug up from a grave.

"Who are you?"

Qin Zi stared at the old man warily, inadvertently noticing that the cave behind the old man seemed to open up into an even deeper, more sinister pit, like the entrance to hell.

"My delicious meal, you don't need to know who I am. Just be a good boy and let me eat you."

The old man walked toward Qin Zi, grinning wickedly. "Don't be fooled by my current half-dead appearance. Once I eat you and regain some of my vitality, I might even be more handsome than you."

"In your dreams!"

Qin Zi snorted coldly, standing up as his hair rapidly turned golden and grew longer.

Buzz!

A golden flame erupted from within him, causing his aura to surge rapidly, reaching the late stage of the Nirvana Realm!

"Kill!!"

Qin Zi chose to attack immediately. Fleeing would only make it easier for the enemy to strike from behind, so it was better to fight head-on.

A golden longsword appeared in his hand, its sword light extending several meters as he slashed across.

Clang!

However, the seemingly decrepit old man casually extended two bony fingers and caught the sword light.

"The more you struggle, the more excited I get."

The old man grinned cruelly as a black gas coiled around the sword light like a serpent, moving to engulf Qin Zi.

"Break!"

Qin Zi shouted, gripping the sword hilt with both hands. The sword light shattered with a resounding explosion.

The swirling black gas was dispersed, and the shards of sword light served as cover.

Seizing this opportunity, Qin Zi let go of the sword hilt, using his right foot to kick the sword handle forcefully.

Swish!

The sword shot toward the old man in a burst of golden light, while Qin Zi used the rebound force to fly backward several meters.

Without hesitation, he raised his hands, summoning a large amount of crimson flames, which formed into a lotus flower.

"Hellfire Red Lotus!!"

He roared as he unleashed his most powerful technique, then immediately turned and flew into the distance without waiting for the explosion.

A real man never looks back at explosions!