Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Within the golden light, naturally, were Qin Chuan and Qin Zi. As a powerful Realm Emperor, Qin Chuan had directly brought Qin Zi across the desolate lands, cutting straight into the Southern Domain!

Wherever they passed, the overwhelming pressure of an emperor swept across, causing both humans and beasts alike to tremble in fear.

This is the arrogance of strength!

At this moment, Qin Zi was gazing at the wild and primitive landscape below. He took a deep breath, fascinated, and murmured, "So this is the Southern Domain. It really feels different from the Eastern Domain—there's a raw, untamed energy in the air."

Qin Chuan replied, "The Southern Domain isn't just about savagery. It's also filled with strange curses and witchcraft. Be extra cautious when you train here."

Qin Zi nodded but suddenly looked at Qin Chuan in surprise and exclaimed, "Father, are you saying… you won't be accompanying me on this training?"

"Silly child," Qin Chuan smiled, patting his son's head. "Every young eagle must eventually learn to fly on its own. How could I stay by your side forever?"

He continued, "Besides, if I were to stay with you, would any of the prodigies of the Southern Domain dare to fight you with their full strength? If that's the case, why even come here? We might as well stay in the Eastern Domain."

"Remember, true strength is earned through battle, not by being coddled. Standing on the shoulders of the strong will blind you to how talented your peers might be. Some of those who bow to you because of your status might be stronger than you."

"That's why you must roam the world alone, to see it as it truly is and avoid becoming a frog in a well."

Hearing this, Qin Zi's face showed a deep sense of understanding. He looked up at his father and nodded firmly. He understood his father's good intentions.

"Alright then, we'll part ways here. I have other matters to attend to," Qin Chuan said with a nod. Then he reminded his son, "But remember this!"

"Even if I'm not by your side, do not be afraid. No matter what happens, as long as you believe you are right, never bow to anyone! Even if it causes disaster, even if it leads to chaos, do not hesitate."

"Because... I'll always be watching you from the shadows."

With those words, he turned, transforming into a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Qin Zi watched his father vanish, took a deep breath, and clenched his fists. "Father, I won't let you down!"

Just as he prepared to leave, a massive shadow suddenly leaped up from the ground. A fist the size of a small mountain, reeking of blood, came crashing down with a ferocious roar, as if to shatter the very air.

"Roar!"

The giant ape bellowed as it soared through the air, its eyes filled with wild excitement. But in the next moment, with a loud crash, it plummeted headfirst into the ground, its legs twitching in the air.

"Heh, a mere beast at the Heaven-Piercing realm dares to attack me? Quite bold," Qin Zi said disdainfully as he casually dusted off his hands.

Just then, a sword light flashed from the distance, slicing the ape clean in half. From its abdomen, a glowing orb, the size of a fist, shot out and flew in a specific direction.

"Haha, what luck! This beast actually produced a demon core," a voice said, full of excitement.

Qin Zi frowned and looked over. Three young men approached, laughing amongst themselves. One of them snatched the glowing orb into his hand.

They glanced briefly at Qin Zi but didn't pay him any further attention, preparing to leave.

Qin Zi's expression darkened, and he said coldly, "Taking something without permission... shouldn't you at least acknowledge the owner?"

"Huh?" The leading young man turned, intrigued. "Are you talking to us?"

"Is there anyone else here?" Qin Zi retorted.

The young man sneered, "Are you claiming this is yours?"

He laughed coldly and said, "Everyone knows that everything within a hundred-thousand-mile radius belongs to our Lijiang Sect. That includes the beasts—and, technically speaking, you too."

He gave Qin Zi a once-over and smirked. "What's this? I let you go, and now you want to walk right into our hands?"

"Annoying."

With a casual wave of his hand, Qin Zi unleashed a golden light, faster than the eye could follow, and unimaginably sharp.

"A Saint-level expert!"

The man's face paled as he hastily raised his sword to block, but the golden light sliced through him as if nothing stood in its way. It even continued past him, slicing a barren stone mountain in two.

"Pfft!"

The man's expression froze, and blood sprayed from his waist as the lower half of his body dropped to the ground.

"You… you…"

Glaring at Qin Zi in hatred, a black skull mark appeared on his forehead, transforming into a wisp of smoke that shot toward Qin Zi, merging into his body. The man collapsed, dead.

"A mark of vengeance?" Qin Zi frowned. His father had warned him that in the Southern Domain, most people practiced cursing arts.

The mark of vengeance was common here. When someone was killed, they could channel their dying hatred into a mark that would latch onto their killer, allowing their family to track them down.

This wasn't an attack but more of a curse—nearly impossible to defend against or avoid.

"Run!"

Seeing this, the other two turned tail and fled. They knew that once the mark was placed, it was a fight to the death, and the attacker had no reason to let them go.

"Do you think you can escape?"

Qin Zi's figure blurred as he caught up to them. With a simple motion, both of them were sent crashing headfirst into the ground, the pain so intense they passed out instantly.

"Why run? Did I say I was going to kill you? You're making me look like some kind of demon lord," Qin Zi muttered, shaking his head as he looked down at their upturned bodies, then prepared to leave.

"Stop, thief!"

An enraged shout came from the sky, followed by a towering sword light.

Whoosh!

The sword light spanned hundreds of meters, splitting mountains as it tore through the sky toward Qin Zi.

"Break."

Qin Zi remained still, casually raising a finger. A crystalline beam of light shot forth, shattering the incoming sword energy into countless diamond-like fragments, scattering them through the air.

A gust of wind swept through the forest, rustling the trees and causing Qin Zi's robes and hair to flutter. A small smile formed on his lips. "So this is how strong I've become."

Indeed, he had reached the sixth level of the Saint realm.

Back in the Nine Suns Dynasty, the Saint realm had seemed so distant, almost mythical. Now, he had reached that height, and looking back, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia.

"Thief, you dare kill a member of my Lijiang Sect and think you can get away?!" the sword's owner appeared then—an elderly man in white robes with a sharp, intimidating presence.

"You should leave. I don't want to kill you. There's no need to wipe out an entire sect over a small matter," Qin Zi said calmly.

"Heh, such arrogance from a child! Do you take the Lijiang Sect for fools?" The old man sneered angrily.

"I'm simply stating the facts. Believe what you will. I, Qin Zi, do not need to explain myself to anyone," Qin Zi replied, standing with his hands behind his back, imitating his father's demeanor.

"Arrogant brat! Die!" the old man snarled, rushing forward with his sword. As he moved, he summoned the image of a great river, surging and majestic, aiming to overwhelm Qin Zi.

But the river was merely a distraction. The real attack was in the sword itself—swift and lethal.

Qin Zi didn't bother with tricks. He simply clenched his fist and threw a punch, using raw power to break through all techniques.

As a divine body, and having been nourished by many precious herbs and bathed in dragon fish blood, Qin Zi's strength had long surpassed the norm, becoming something monstrous.

Boom!

With a loud explosion, the river illusion was shattered, and the unstoppable force of Qin Zi's punch completely neutralized the old man's sword strike.

Whoosh!

The elder, initially charging with fierce momentum, suddenly found all his power dissipated. His knees buckled involuntarily.

And yet, his body kept sliding forward due to inertia, until he ended up kneeling right at Qin Zi's feet.

Before Qin Zi could react, the elder swiftly raised his sword in both hands, holding it up like an offering.

"Spare me, senior!" he cried out without hesitation.

Qin Zi blinked in shock, staring at the elder who had just been filled with righteous fury. He couldn't quite process the sudden change.

"Isn't such flexibility usually reserved for younger men? How can an old man, with bones as brittle as his, bend so well?"