Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

"Your son's life is in danger! A Saint of the Fifth Heavenly Layer has developed killing intent toward him. As a father, you must prevail. Your cultivation will be raised to the Fifth Heavenly Layer, and you will be invincible at the same level!"

In the distant sea of clouds, Qin Chuan, who was hiding among the clouds, suddenly received this system notification.

He looked into the distance.

There, in front of him, the clouds churned, forming a massive lion's head that lunged toward Qin Zi. Immediately afterward, a black-clad elder appeared.

However, before long, with a sharp snap, the elder's head was bitten off by a gigantic beast. In no time at all, the elder was gone.

The beast was an enormous black fish, much like the legendary Kun—a creature so large that one pot wouldn't be enough to cook it.

The Kun then opened its massive maw toward Qin Zi.

Swoosh!

Within the black maw, a giant vortex spun rapidly, generating a terrifying suction force.

The surrounding clouds, as though drawn by the vortex, were sucked in. Qin Zi was also enveloped by the suction force.

"Ah!"

Qin Zi's face twisted in pain. He clenched his teeth, trying his best to hold on, much like a soldier fiercely defending his position...

"Should I intervene?"

Qin Chuan watched the scene unfold, stroking his chin as he fell into deep thought.

It didn't take long for him to make a decision.

He chose to stand by!

He could see that the way this Kun treated Qin Zi and the black-clad elder was entirely different. The elder was decapitated instantly, while Qin Zi was being sucked in by the Kun's mouth...

Clearly, this was an opportunity for Qin Zi!

How could he disrupt that?

So, he stood by, watching as his adopted son struggled bitterly under the suction of the giant Kun, only to eventually give in and be swallowed whole by the massive beast.

Swoosh!

After devouring Qin Zi, the Kun leaped into the air before diving back into the sea of clouds.

Once within the clouds, its body flickered with a layer of white light, and it vanished into thin air.

"Normally, this brat should be receiving a great fortune, and his strength will skyrocket. If he's lucky, he might even get his hands on an imperial weapon."

Qin Chuan calculated silently, his eyes lighting up.

If Qin Zi really obtained an imperial weapon, he could easily leverage that situation.

An imperial weapon!

The temptation was so great that even though Qin Zi was the son of a World Sovereign, plenty of powerful people would still risk everything...

...

Soon, Qin Chuan returned to his palace on Shenxia Mountain.

This was the safest place for him.

If he stayed outside for too long, he might encounter some trouble, like running into people who didn't recognize him as "the ruthless Qin Chuan." If those people happened to be stronger than him, it would be problematic.

And in such situations, using an imperial weapon to kill would likely attract unwanted attention from even more powerful individuals. Then, a crowd of experts would surround him, and they'd eventually figure out that this guy with an imperial sword but seemingly weak cultivation was... Qin Chuan!

At that point, everyone would suspect that his previous strength was fake, or that it came from a secret technique, causing the reputation he had painstakingly built to collapse.

His reputation was a protective shield. Without it, he would face endless trouble.

Therefore, hiding in the palace on Shenxia Mountain was the most prudent choice—ever since he had laid down the prohibition at Lansheng Peak, no one had dared approach within a hundred miles of Shenxia Mountain!

In the underground chamber.

Qin Chuan sat cross-legged, silently asking, "System, now that I've gathered the five elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, can I become an Emperor?"

Ding! In theory, you can.

"However, becoming an Emperor with just the five elemental laws results in a weaker imperial tribulation. The refinement of your foundation will be insufficient, and after becoming an Emperor, your combat strength will be subpar. At that time, this system cannot guarantee your invincibility at the same level. Please consider carefully."

Qin Chuan fell silent for a moment.

He had already expected this. In the Eastern Region, it was common knowledge that becoming an Emperor with the five elemental laws was the norm. Adding more laws was a death sentence, but that was only because they were weak.

Of course, environmental or resource limitations could also play a role, just like how one couldn't break through to the Saint Realm in a desolate area.

After pondering, he asked, "If I gather nine laws, will the imperial tribulation be too strong for me to survive?"

Ding! Host, rest assured, the imperial tribulation is merely a formality in front of the system. As long as you dare to face it, you will succeed!

What was there to fear then!!

Qin Chuan suddenly stood up, stomping his right foot heavily on the ground—he was determined to gather nine laws before breaking through to the World Sovereign Realm!

Crack...

At that moment, a crisp sound came from the ground, as if his excited stomp had cracked the floor.

However...

"Something's not right about that sound..." Qin Zi furrowed his brows.

Swoosh!

He released his divine sense from his forehead, probing the ground, but found nothing unusual.

Still, he had a nagging feeling.

He suddenly recalled how, when the Lu family ancestor had agreed to give up Shenxia Mountain, his expression had been somewhat strange—hesitant at first but quickly turning enthusiastic.

"The absence of a problem is the biggest problem!"

With this realization, Qin Chuan clenched his right fist, gathering the power of the five elemental laws, and punched the ground with force.

Boom!

The ground shook violently. If he hadn't controlled the impact, the shockwave alone would have been enough to blow the entire palace away.

The result of that punch was a two-meter-wide hole in the ground, reaching a depth of five thousand meters.

From the mountain's peak, it extended all the way to its midpoint—a punch so deep it would shame any who claimed to be heart-to-heart with someone!

Of course, Qin Chuan's punch was capable of far more.

In normal circumstances, a punch imbued with the five elemental laws could easily pierce through the entire Shenxia Mountain and penetrate tens of thousands of meters underground!

However, something had obstructed him.

Swoosh!

Qin Chuan's divine sense surged into the black hole, reaching its deepest point, where he discovered a faint golden barrier.

Through the barrier, he could vaguely make out a vast underground space below, though the lighting was dim, making it hard to see.

Still, he could faintly discern some glittering objects—likely weapons, ores, or spiritual pills.

"It's a treasure trove!"

Qin Chuan's eyes lit up. He was short on resources at the moment, and this treasure trove could solve his immediate problems.

With that in mind, he drew out the Black Whale Imperial Sword and leaped into the hole, gripping the sword with both hands and pouring the power of the five elements into it.

"Break!!"

The moment the sword struck the barrier, the endless sharpness of the imperial weapon burst forth.

Crack!

The barrier cracked open, though not completely. Qin Chuan immediately used the Three Flowers Gathering atop his head, continuing to exert force.

Boom!

This time, the Black Whale Sword's full might was unleashed, shattering the barrier with ease.

If it had been an ordinary imperial sword, it likely wouldn't have had the power to do so, as brute strength was necessary in this situation!

With the barrier broken, its energy quickly dissipated. Qin Chuan twisted the sword's hilt, and like scooping out the flesh of a watermelon, the sword carved out a large hole in the barrier.

The hole's diameter was roughly half a meter, the width of the Black Whale Sword. Qin Chuan, being tall and slender, squeezed through the opening.

He entered.

Swoosh!

Immediately, a warm, humid air surrounded him, as though enveloping him.

His breathing became somewhat labored.

Then, a foul odor hit his nose, reminiscent of rotting paper or spoiled fruit.

Snap!

With a snap of his fingers, a ball of elemental light formed, illuminating the space around him.

On the ground were various precious ores—Dragon Blood Stones, Biyou Stones, Golden Crystal Stones—all invaluable materials for crafting weapons. Just adding a bit of these could significantly enhance the power of a weapon, and they were rare, with no market price.

This was an immeasurable fortune!

Aside from that, about half a meter above the ground, hundreds of pills floated in the air, each one shining like a star, emitting different colored lights.

From the patterns on the pills, it was clear they were all seventh-grade pills, with even a few eighth-grade ones mixed in.

Although Qin Chuan didn't know the names of these pills and didn't dare consume them recklessly, if he sold them... he could easily earn billions.

This was another massive fortune.

In short, just these two items made him wealthy beyond imagination, rivaling the accumulations of first-rate sects built over millennia.

In the center of the space, a stone pillar entwined with a coiling dragon held several dozens of spears, swords, and halberds, all top-tier Holy Saint treasures!

"This must be the Lu family's secret treasury, perhaps prepared as a backup for the clan's revival after a downfall?"

Qin Chuan chuckled as he guessed.

In his heart, he silently thanked the Lu family.

No matter what, he was now rich. Whether it was hiring a water army or sending assassins after his adopted son, he no longer had to worry about money...