Kun Emperor carried Qin Zi at lightning speed, with Qin Chuan following closely behind. The three of them quickly left the Sun-Devouring Emperor Palace far behind.
Finally, they stopped over a crystal-clear blue lake. The surface of the lake was as still as a giant mirror, reflecting the serene blue sky above, peaceful and beautiful.
"Thank you for your assistance, my friend," Qin Chuan clasped his hands toward Kun Emperor in gratitude.
He acted as if he had no idea who Kun Emperor was, appearing to believe that he was merely a righteous warrior offering help.
Qin Zi also expressed his thanks, "Thank you, senior, for saving my life."
"Hmph, save your thanks," Kun Emperor coldly sneered, looking mockingly at Qin Zi. "With the relationship between us, do we really need to say thank you?"
"Huh? What?" Qin Zi was dumbfounded. Did he have any relationship with this mysterious elder? He had no idea who this person was!
"Does my friend know my son?" Qin Chuan pretended to be puzzled.
"Hmph, not just know! Your son nearly humiliated me to death once!" Kun Emperor's face turned icy as he recalled the tragic deaths of the young prodigies from the Tianheng Clan.
Those juniors had risked their lives to save him, yet died miserably in front of him. He could only watch helplessly as they perished.
This was a lifelong guilt that he carried, and it had turned into a boundless hatred. He swore to kill this little brat to avenge those who died.
"What? Senior, what are you talking about? I don't understand! We've… never even met!" Qin Zi's face turned pale, suddenly filled with panic.
"Facing death, and you still deny it? With the hatred between us, even if you turned to ashes, I'd still recognize you!" Kun Emperor's eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
Ding! The Eight-Origin Martial Emperor Kun Emperor has developed killing intent toward your son. Following the principle of 'a father's love is like a mountain, and the father must win,' your cultivation will now increase to the Eight-Origin Martial Emperor, and you will be invincible at this level.
Suddenly, Qin Chuan's power surged dramatically.
And then, he launched a sneak attack!
Boom!
A beam of light, like the first light of creation, transcended space and time, crashing into Kun Emperor.
"What?!" Kun Emperor reacted instantly, summoning an earthen-yellow armor around him, but it couldn't fully withstand the force of the blow.
Crack!
The armor cracked, and Kun Emperor was sent flying a thousand meters back, crashing into a mountainside by the lake.
"You're also an Eight-Origin Martial Emperor!" Kun Emperor was both shocked and furious, but then he burst out laughing.
"Luckily, I was cautious. I pretended to save you first, then struck! Otherwise, I might have failed today."
"You've already been branded as Tianheng Clan spies. Now that I've 'saved' you, the charge is confirmed. Even if I can't kill you today, the Human Clan's Sacred Hall will hunt you down!"
Hearing this, Qin Zi's face turned deathly pale.
He finally understood—the burly man who had saved him was from the Tianheng Clan! And now, he was stuck with the blame!
"You dare frame us!" Qin Chuan's expression darkened with fury as he questioned, "What grudge could my son have with you to drive an Eight-Origin Martial Emperor to act so despicably?"
Kun Emperor snorted, pointing at Qin Zi with a cold smile, "Why don't you ask him? Ask your precious son what he's done to deserve this!"
Qin Chuan looked at Qin Zi.
Qin Zi raised his hands, looking like a piglet unsure where to place its hooves. He stammered, "I… I don't even know him! I thought he was your friend just now!"
Qin Chuan frowned and continued to stare at him.
Panicking, Qin Zi quickly added, "Dad, you have to believe me! You know me—I've always been honest and would never lie."
Qin Chuan gazed at him for a few seconds before nodding, his eyes filled with trust. "I believe you."
Immediately, Qin Zi felt relieved, and the world seemed to brighten up for him once more.
Turning to Kun Emperor, Qin Chuan said calmly, "Whatever your motives, and whatever lies you've fabricated, I'm willing to let you leave in peace. Go."
"You!!" Kun Emperor was nearly driven mad with rage.
It was a feeling of indescribable frustration and fury. When ants misunderstand him, he couldn't care less. Why would the strong care about the opinions of ants?
But being misunderstood by someone on his level filled him with the same anger a normal person would feel when falsely accused. He was furious!
"Fine! Since you blindly trust your son, let's see if you can protect him!"
In the end, Kun Emperor took a deep breath, swallowing all his rage, and attacked.
"Kun Earth Technique: Earthen River Wheel!"
Kun Emperor formed hand seals, and instantly, large mountains behind him rose into the sky, transforming into massive earthen dragons, blotting out the sun.
"Water Technique!"
Qin Chuan spread his arms, palms facing upward. The lake below surged, and towering water columns rose into the sky, forming water dragons that coiled and twisted.
"Kill!"
"Attack!"
Earthen dragons and water dragons clashed fiercely in the sky, shaking the heavens and the earth with deafening roars.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground quaked, the sky trembled. Occasionally, an earthen dragon would collapse into a pile of rocks, or a water dragon would explode into torrential rain, flooding the land below like a waterfall.
"Armor of the Earth!"
Kun Emperor roared, his body enveloped in layers of earthen-yellow light. A destructive storm formed around him as he charged at Qin Chuan.
"I'm not afraid of you!"
Qin Chuan sneered. His right foot shattered the void as he met the attack head-on. With his strength now invincible at the same level, he was confident in crushing everything before him!
Boom!!!
The two collided, sending shockwaves that ripped open black holes in space. Before the shockwaves could even spread, the two had moved to another location, clashing again.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Their figures flickered across the sky, constantly shifting, as black holes opened up around them. Space fragments flew wildly with every strike.
Boom!
Finally, a massive black hole erupted, and blinding light surged out, enveloping everything in its path.
After a long while, the battlefield quieted.
The black hole gradually shrank, space began to heal, and a bloodstained figure in white slowly emerged from the void.
"Dad, are you hurt?" Qin Zi rushed over, concerned.
"No, this is his blood." Qin Chuan smiled and shook his head.
"Where is he?" Qin Zi asked.
"He got away." Qin Chuan replied calmly, "In a world like this, anyone who reaches such a level isn't easy to kill."
Qin Zi nodded in understanding. Though unexpected, it made sense—high-ranking Martial Emperors all had their own ways to survive. It was impossible for them to die as easily as mere ants.
"But, Dad, why does he want to kill me? And why go to such lengths to frame me? I feel like something's off."
Qin Zi expressed his concerns.
Qin Chuan pretended to ponder for a moment before replying, "From his behavior, it seems he wasn't lying. This suggests that someone must be trying to frame you from behind the scenes."
"What?!" Qin Zi's eyes widened in shock. Then, he erupted in anger, gritting his teeth, "Who could be such a despicable bastard? I curse them to have children without buttholes, and for their daughters-in-law to be total idiots!"
Qin Chuan's eyes flashed with a strange look.
But soon, his expression returned to normal.
Casually, he patted his son on the shoulder and softly reassured him, "Don't worry. No matter what happens… I'll always be here for you."
Qin Zi felt a wave of warmth wash over him.
He nodded gratefully, then, unable to control his emotions, threw himself into his father's embrace, wanting to cry his heart out.
No matter how many storms he faced in life, this embrace would always be his warmest refuge.
What he didn't know was that this refuge had long since sprung a leak.
Just like how many people don't realize that the sacred place they yearn for is already overflowing with traffic, crowded beyond belief...