Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

The Huangquan Sect Master's sudden invitation to take Qin Zi as his disciple caught him completely off guard.

After all, Qin Zi had only come here because his father told him it was important to gain experience and see the world. His father said that in order to become stronger, he had to compete with the geniuses of different regions—this was an essential process.

So, here he was.

Even though this was a recruitment tournament, it didn't necessarily mean he wanted to join a sect. Many young people attended not to join but just to test their skills against others.

They knew they had no chance of being selected.

And there were plenty of young people who desperately wanted to join the Huangquan Sect, but… did wanting it mean the sect would definitely accept them?

The Huangquan Sect was the one doing the choosing.

The sect could choose disciples, but disciples could also choose whether to join a sect. If they didn't want to join, they simply wouldn't.

"What's this? You don't want to?"

Sima Nan frowned. He hadn't expected that after personally extending an invitation, this young man wouldn't jump at the chance, but instead hesitated.

This made him feel that his authority had been challenged.

After all, in this vast region, the Huangquan Sect was the absolute ruler, and he, as the Sect Master, held immense power and prestige.

In his eyes, offering an olive branch to a young talent was a great honor, and he had extended the invitation with a sense of superiority—feeling as if he were graciously lowering himself to recruit Qin Zi.

Yet, it seemed he was being rejected.

"Senior, I only came here to see and learn from the talents of the region. I never intended to find a master," Qin Zi respectfully replied.

"So, are you saying you don't think the Huangquan Sect is worth joining?"

Sima Nan's expression grew colder, and the air around them seemed to freeze.

"Senior, you misunderstand."

Qin Zi quickly explained, "The Huangquan Sect is one of the most powerful forces in the Eastern Domain, a dominant power in this vast land. Who would dare look down on it?"

"However, I already have a master. It doesn't feel appropriate for me to take another master... I ask for your understanding, Senior."

In truth, Qin Zi wasn't a complete troublemaker.

When he could reason with someone, he preferred to do so—at least at the start.

"Hmph!!"

Sima Nan let out a cold snort, glaring down at Qin Zi. "If you already have a master, then why did you come to participate in my Huangquan Sect's recruitment event? Are you here to make a fool out of me?!"

"No, no, not at all!"

Qin Zi quickly shook his head. "As I said before, I came here simply to gain experience. I didn't expect Senior to show me such favor. I am truly unable to take on a new master and ask for your understanding."

"Haha, how eloquent."

Sima Nan sneered. "But the Huangquan Sect isn't some place you can come and use just to gain experience! The arena set up by my own hands isn't here for you to play around in!"

"I am willing to offer some form of compensation."

Qin Zi took a deep breath and spoke seriously.

"Good. Then hand over a Saint-grade treasure, and this matter will be forgotten. Otherwise, you won't be leaving the Huangquan Sect today." Sima Nan said indifferently.

"You!!"

Qin Zi clenched his teeth.

How could he possibly have a Saint-grade treasure at this stage? Sima Nan was clearly trying to make things difficult for him.

"What's wrong? Can't produce one? If you don't have a Saint-grade treasure, how dare you speak of compensation in front of me?"

Sima Nan glanced at Qin Zi with a condescending smirk, his posture becoming even more arrogant.

Sima Nan was narrow-minded, a fact he readily admitted to himself. However, he was far from reckless. His questions were all designed to probe the young man, to gauge whether he had any significant backing.

When Qin Zi mentioned having a master, Sima Nan had grown cautious. If Qin Zi could indeed produce a Saint-grade treasure, it would imply some sort of powerful background, and the matter would be settled peacefully.

In fact, he wouldn't even have accepted the treasure. That would demonstrate his magnanimity in front of the crowd, and Qin Zi's mysterious backing wouldn't have any reason to complain.

But now, seeing that this young man couldn't produce such a treasure, it was clear he had no significant backing.

At least, not one that could rival the Huangquan Sect.

After all, even their top geniuses were equipped with Saint-grade treasures when they ventured out. It was a symbol of the sect's status.

"Senior, can we negotiate something else?"

Qin Zi suppressed his anger and asked.

"We can."

Sima Nan replied casually, "How about this—you kneel down, knock your head three times, and then you can leave."

Whoosh!

At these words, everyone's expressions changed.

This was an attack on his dignity!

For a genius like Qin Zi, kneeling before everyone would mean that he'd never be able to hold his head high again. It would destroy his future.

Qin Zi took several deep breaths, then slowly raised his head. The hesitation in his eyes had vanished, replaced by an icy resolve. He coldly asked, "Senior, must you really force me into this?"

Sima Nan sat leisurely in his chair, looking down at Qin Zi as if he were a mere insect. "Hmph, force you? What if I am?"

He was no longer bothering to put up a façade.

Magnanimity, dignity—those were just illusions. He didn't need people's respect; he only needed them to fear him.

If he bothered to engage in back-and-forth with a mere insect, it would only diminish his own authority. The people watching would lose their fear of him.

He needed to be firm.

He needed to be ruthless!

At this moment, the disdain in Sima Nan's eyes stoked Qin Zi's pride. Glaring back at him, Qin Zi asked, "Do you really believe you are invincible in this world?"

Sima Nan remained expressionless, speaking slowly, "I am not invincible, but I can make you helpless."

"No matter how high you think you can soar, in front of me, you're just an ant. I could crush you with a single finger. That's the reality you cannot escape."

Pfft!

Suddenly, Qin Zi laughed. With a mocking tone, he said, "What a grand and all-powerful figure you are! Such bravery!"

"If you're so great, why don't you go to the broader world and challenge real experts? Why hide in your little corner and pretend to be powerful by bullying those weaker than you?"

"Haha, because you know you're not worthy! You can only sit in one small place, relying on the protection of your ancestors, pretending to be strong by posturing in front of the weak to maintain your pathetic sense of pride."

"And someone like you thinks you're worthy of being my master? Do you really not understand why I rejected you?"

"And now that I've exposed the truth you refuse to accept, you're angry, aren't you? You want to kill me, right?"

Qin Zi sneered, looking at him as if he were a pathetic clown.

"Courting death!!"

Sima Nan's eyes filled with murderous intent, becoming wild like a lion whose wounds had been exposed.

Not everyone in this world was mentally stable, and Sima Nan clearly wasn't one of those normal people.

He was insecure to the point of arrogance!!

Boom!!

A terrifying pressure descended from the heavens, as if the sky itself was collapsing.

This was the power of a Ninth Heaven Saint!

"Father—!"

Qin Zi roared at the sky.

He knew that against a powerhouse of this level, even relying on his master wouldn't help. He had no choice but to call on his father!

Boom!!

A thunderous explosion echoed across the sky, sending shockwaves in all directions like a tsunami. The audience was thrown off their feet, scattering like leaves in the wind.

Qin Zi slowly opened his eyes. Sure enough, that familiar, towering figure stood in front of him.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Golden streams of energy swirled around them like countless dragons, encircling father and son.

That white-clad figure stood like an immovable mountain, eternal and unshakable!

"Huh?!"

Sima Nan's expression darkened, and he slowly rose from his chair. His eyes fixed on Qin Chuan as he asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

"Didn't you hear him call?"

Qin Chuan replied indifferently.

"Father?"

Sima Nan frowned and muttered.

"Don't call me that. You're not worthy."

Qin Chuan stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm.

"You dare insult me!!"

Sima Nan shouted angrily.

"A man first debases himself, and only then do others debase him. You, a Ninth Heaven Saint, attacked a mere Tongtian Realm junior. Did you expect me to respect you?" Qin Chuan said evenly.

"Spare me the lectures! Right and wrong don't matter in this world—it's the victors who write history. Once your body rots in the ground, who will care whether you were right?"

Sima Nan roared and launched his attack, unwilling to waste any more time with words. He wanted to crush these father and son for daring to challenge his authority!

"Huangquan Descends from the Ninth Heaven!"

Light burst from Sima Nan's forehead, illuminating the sky. The heavens seemed to tear open as a massive Yellow Spring waterfall cascaded down, twisting into a river that surged toward Qin Chuan.

Yellow Spring, corrosive to all things!

"Flashy but empty!"

Qin Chuan lifted his right foot and stomped hard. Nine white dragons erupted from beneath him, twisting and coiling together as they surged up to meet the Yellow Spring.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The nine dragons surged against the current of the Yellow Spring, causing the river to churn violently. The dragons twisted into a tunnel, and Qin Chuan shot through it like a ray of light!

Buzz!

In an instant, Qin Chuan passed through the Yellow Spring and appeared right in front of Sima Nan, a blue lotus sword appearing in his hand.

"Immortal Crystal Wall!"

Sima Nan reacted immediately, surrounding himself in a brilliant golden barrier that hovered above his head.

Boom!!

Qin Chuan's sword descended like a pillar of heaven, a silver-white arc of hundreds of meters striking fear into the hearts of onlookers.

The golden barrier immediately began to crack, the sound like ice shattering as fissures rapidly spread.

"You won't break through this!"

Sima Nan roared, pouring more energy into the barrier, which began to heal itself, as though time were reversing.

"Oh really?"

Qin Chuan chuckled. His body trembled slightly, and three radiant lotus flowers bloomed above his head, glowing brilliantly.

His power instantly tripled!

With a strong grip on his sword, he pressed down harder. The golden barrier shattered, and a figure was sent flying toward the ground.

Boom!!

The earth trembled as a crater formed upon impact, and Qin Chuan, with a backward flick, hurled his sword toward the fallen figure!

Thud!

"Aargh—!"

The Qinglian Sword pierced through Sima Nan's left shoulder, pinning him to the bottom of the crater, his face turned toward the sky, unable to move.