"Another Qin family member? Could it be that among Gongsun Ming and Nangong Ling's subordinates, there's someone pretending to be from the Qin family?"
Qin Yang and his two companions exchanged glances.
As they emerged from the cave, they found a young cultivator waiting outside.
Dressed in a black, form-fitting robe that exuded both modesty and nobility, the youth wore an expression of arrogant defiance as he looked down upon Qin Yang and his companions.
His eyes widened in astonishment when he saw Lou Mengyu, as if struck by divine beauty.
"This isn't one of Gongsun Ming or Nangong Ling's subordinates," Jin Wanshan whispered. "He's too old to have taken part in the Celestial Academy's selection trials."
The Celestial Academy's trials were strictly limited to candidates under eighteen years of age. Once a youth reached eighteen, they lost eligibility to join the academy.
"Then when did he slip in?" Qin Yang couldn't figure it out.
"What are you waiting for? Hand over that Flame Ruby Crystal immediately!" the man shouted.
"You claim to be from the Qin family?" Qin Yang asked.
The man puffed out his chest proudly. "That's right! I am Qin Wuyi, the young master of the Qin family!"
After speaking, Qin Wuyi pointed around and said, "The entire secret realm belongs to our Qin Family. You uninvited guests not only dared to intrude, but also brazenly plundered our treasures. What punishment do you deserve?"
Qin Yang's heart stirred. He asked, "From your words, it seems you live here?"
"Exactly," Qin Wuyi replied. "Not just me, but our entire Qin Family resides here!"
"Entire Qin Family? How many people?" Jin Wanshan was stunned.
"Our Qin Family is one of the Eight Divine Clans. Though we have no subordinate clans, we still number nearly a thousand. Among us are dozens of Zongshi Realm cultivators!" Qin Wuyi said with pride.
In this secret realm, Zongshi Realm cultivators represented the pinnacle of combat power. For a single family to possess dozens of such experts would be enough to dominate the entire realm.
With such formidable reserves and control over the entire secret realm, how could the Qin Family have possibly been annihilated?
No! This can't be the Qin Family!
Qin Yang stared intently at Qin Wuyi and asked, "What is Qin Lie to you?"
"Qin Lie?" Qin Wuyi burst out laughing. "He was merely an imposter pretending to be me!"
At this point, Qin Wuyi seemed to have a thorough understanding of Qin Lie's actions. He continued, "He must be proclaiming himself as the true descendant of the Qin Family everywhere he goes? What a joke! I am the true heir of the Qin Family! Once I find the time, I'll emerge from this secret realm and cut him down! I'll make the world see who the real heir is!"
Qin Wuyi paused, then looked at Qin Yang and his companions with suspicion. "What's this? Have you met him?"
The three companions exchanged glances, now certain of their understanding.
The so-called Qin Family within this secret realm was likely a faction orchestrated by Qin Lie. He was merely a pawn to set the stage for Qin Wuyi's grand entrance.
The Qin Family's descendants had vanished for a millennium. Suddenly reappearing now would be met with disbelief. This elaborate scheme could indeed bolster their credibility.
Alas... they had encountered Qin Yang!
"Regardless of whether you've met him, hand over the Flame Ruby Crystal immediately," Qin Wuyi demanded. His gaze remained fixed on Lou Mengyu as he spoke. "Considering your cultivation levels at your ages, you're prodigies. I could spare you from trouble and even invite you to visit my clan."
"It's just a bit of Flame Ruby Crystal. Why does it make you so excited? When we didn't take it, the crystal was still there. I never saw you go to retrieve it..."
Qin Yang rolled his eyes and guessed, "You couldn't defeat the guardian beast, could you?"
Qin Wuyi's face twisted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He instantly flew into a rage, "You're full of shit! It seems we can't settle this peacefully today. Let me teach you a proper lesson!"
"Such an intense reaction. I think I hit the mark?" Qin Yang laughed heartily.
What's the point of having dozens of Zongshi Realm experts? It'd be utterly humiliating to lose to a Zongshi-level beast.
Copy: Canglang Art. Technique 5/10.
Qin Yang raised an eyebrow. Why did I only copy a worthless technique? Where's the martial art?
Upon closer inspection, he burst out laughing. Qin Wuyi was actually using the Dragon Soaring Step while wielding the Shocking Sword Finger!
"You disappoint me too much," Qin Yang sighed, charging forward with the same Dragon Soaring Step.
Qin Wuyi's Dragon Soaring Step was far more powerful than Qin Lie's, but compared to Qin Yang's, it was like night and day.
"Shocking Sword Finger!"
"Shocking Sword Finger!"
Both men formed their fingers into sword-like gestures, thrusting them toward each other.
A strange light flashed from Qin Wuyi's fingers, resembling sword glares. Yet Qin Yang's fingers were enveloped in a faint, barely perceptible sword aura.
Qin Wuyi's expression turned to shock. "You... How can you also use the Shocking Sword Finger?"
Clang!
As if two real swords had collided, Qin Wuyi's finger snapped directly. Qin Yang remained completely unharmed.
Qin Wuyi clutched his broken finger, his face twisted with terror and anger. The shattered finger meant he could never use the Shocking Sword Finger again!
"Impossible! This can't be! The Shocking Sword Finger was lost long ago. We already possess the most complete version. This sword finger can't possibly be cultivated to such heights!" Qin Wuyi refused to believe it.
Qin Yang's lips curled into a smile. "Aren't you the Qin Family? How could your own family's martial technique be lost?"
Qin Wuyi gave Qin Yang a deep look. "What you used absolutely wasn't the Shocking Sword Finger! The Shocking Sword Finger doesn't look like that! Since you dared to hurt me, have some guts and don't leave the secret realm. Wait here for me!"
With that, Qin Wuyi took the two broken fingers and ran off.
Qin Yang found this amusing. How had even the genuine Shocking Sword Finger technique become fake in his hands? Instead of pursuing Qin Wuyi, he watched him depart quietly.
He needed to figure out what was going on with the Qin Family in this secret realm!
Returning to the cave, Qin Yang resumed his pill refining.
Jin Wanshan worried, "How can you remain so calm? Aren't you afraid Qin Wuyi will bring reinforcements?"
Qin Yang chuckled mysteriously, "Every crisis brings opportunity. You don't understand."
His eyes gleamed sharply. To dare impersonate the Qin Family? And with so many experts present? This was an excellent chance - an opportunity to enhance his strength!
He refined all the spirit medicine into pills, not just Mind Concentration Pills, but also Gathering Qi Pills and Breath Recovery Pills.
In this secret realm, they couldn't afford to consume freshly made pills still carrying medicinal qi. Stockpiling pills was crucial.
After dividing the pills, Qin Yang looked at the sky outside. "Strange. Why haven't they come yet?"
Lou Mengyu and Jin Wanshan exchanged glances. You're actually hoping they'll come looking for trouble...
Just as they prepared to move, a series of whistling sounds reached their ears.
They were here!
A group of over a dozen people approached, led by an elderly man. To everyone's surprise, Qin Wuyi was among them - his severed finger had been reattached and treated.
Every face carried a hint of joy, with Qin Wuyi appearing particularly elated. He even wore a set of vibrant red robes.
"So you're the Lou family's daughter and the Jin family's young master," Qin Wuyi said, bowing slightly. "My apologies for the oversight. A banquet has already been prepared in our clan. Please follow me to the feast."
"A banquet? What banquet?" Jin Wanshan frowned.
"Of course, the betrothal banquet," Qin Wuyi replied. "Nangong Ling and Gongsun Ming have already arrived."
As he spoke, Qin Wuyi's burning gaze fell on Lou Mengyu. "I never imagined you'd be my fiancée. If not for Lou Qinru's revelation, I wouldn't have believed it."
"Get lost! Who's your fiancée?" Lou Mengyu's face turned frosty.
Qin Yang's eyes glinted with murderous intent. Had Nangong Ling and Gongsun Ming truly accepted this secret realm's Qin Family as the Qin Family of the Eight Divine Clans?
"As for this brat?" Qin Wuyi turned to Qin Yang with a sneer. "Though we became acquainted through conflict, you dared injure me... If you kneel and kowtow three times, then slap yourself ten times, I might spare you!"