Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

High above in the sky, Qin Chuan and Qin Zi flew side by side.

After a long while, Qin Zi couldn't help but ask, "Dad, isn't it a bit... cruel to leave that guy back there like that?"

"He is a Realm Emperor, after all. With his head stuck in the ground and his rear end pointed skyward, it just looks... undignified."

Qin Chuan glanced at his son, a playful smile on his face as he asked, "So, what do you think we should have done instead?"

Was his son feeling compassion?

However, Qin Zi responded fiercely, "I think we shouldn't have just left his butt in the air. We should have buried the rest of him too!"

Qin Chuan was momentarily stunned.

Then, inwardly, he gave a thumbs up—this was definitely his son!

He pondered for a moment before saying, "You did well this time. Not only did you defeat the three top geniuses of the Southern Domain, but you also managed to hold your ground while being hunted by so many older powerhouses. I'm proud of you."

Hearing his father's praise, Qin Zi perked up!

How did his father know everything, even about him defeating the three great geniuses? Could it be that... his father had been silently watching over him the entire time?

Suddenly, a wave of emotion surged in Qin Zi's heart.

It turned out that his father hadn't just left him to fend for himself. Though it seemed like he was on his own, his father had always been there, protecting him from the shadows.

Otherwise, how would his father know all the details of his experiences, and why would he show up right when Qin Zi couldn't hold on any longer?

Could something like that really just be a coincidence?

No way!!

Thinking of this, Qin Zi felt immense guilt. He had once believed his father to be cold-hearted, thinking his father no longer cared whether he lived or died.

He had been so unfilial!

Qin Chuan, meanwhile, easily detected the emotional shift in his son. With a gentle smile, he reached out and ruffled Qin Zi's hair, saying, "You did well this time. You deserve a reward."

A reward!

Qin Zi's eyes lit up with excitement, his gaze brimming with anticipation.

"All this time, I haven't taught you any cultivation techniques," Qin Chuan began calmly, "because I once made a promise to a senior that I wouldn't pass down my own techniques to anyone else. As for other techniques, none of them have caught my eye, so I never bothered to collect any."

"But recently, I happened upon two cultivation techniques by chance."

"While I don't think much of them, in this world, they are considered decent enough."

With that, Qin Chuan raised his right hand, causing a stream of golden script to materialize, swirling like countless fireflies in his palm.

Then, he brought his index and middle fingers together, pressing them gently against Qin Zi's forehead as though piercing it like a sword.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"

The glowing characters spiraled around his fingers before flowing methodically into Qin Zi's forehead.

"T-This is...!"

Qin Zi's eyes widened in shock as an enormous wave of realization hit him—these were Emperor-level cultivation techniques!

The Wu Sovereign Body Refining Scripture!

The Sun-Devouring Emperor Scripture!

Just a brief glance at the techniques made him feel the sheer grandeur and invincibility contained within them. He was awestruck.

Yet, to his father, these were merely "decent"? Just how high were his father's standards?

It was clear that Qin Zi's lack of experience limited his ability to fully grasp his father's perspective.

"Ah!!"

At that moment, a shocked voice rang out. A flash of golden light appeared, and the figure of a golden-haired woman materialized beside Qin Zi.

Her body was semi-transparent, a sign that she had expended too much energy during the pursuit, leaving her spirit weak.

"The Wu Sovereign Body Refining Scripture... the Sun-Devouring Emperor Scripture!"

Night Frost, the golden-haired woman, looked astonished. Her initial joy quickly turned to anxiety.

She turned to Qin Chuan and said, "Brother Qin, these techniques are not to be taken lightly. If Xiao Zi cultivates them, it could bring trouble."

Qin Chuan smiled and asked calmly, "Oh? How so?"

Night Frost took a deep breath, composing herself before explaining, "Brother Qin, the Wu Sovereign Body Refining Scripture is a core technique of the Wu God Temple. Only the temple's inner members are allowed to practice it. Outsiders who attempt to cultivate it will be relentlessly hunted by the temple."

"And the Sun-Devouring Emperor Scripture—its origins are even more terrifying. It was created by the legendary Sun-Devouring Emperor, one of the strongest figures in the history of the Nine Skies Realm. Though the Sun-Devouring Emperor has long since disappeared, he is still revered by the Human Holy Temple as one of the ten great temple masters, held in the highest regard."

"If someone who is neither his descendant nor his legitimate heir dares to cultivate this technique, the consequences will be dire."

Upon hearing this, Qin Zi felt the weight of her words.

But Qin Chuan remained calm, smiling as he shook his head. "You're overthinking things. I'm giving Xiao Zi these techniques as a favor to them. When the time comes, I'll explain everything to them. I trust that both the Wu God Temple and the Sun-Devouring Emperor will understand."

Hiss!

Both Qin Zi and Night Frost inhaled sharply. To speak of the Wu God Temple and the Sun-Devouring Emperor in such dismissive terms—using phrases like "they should understand"—was incredibly bold!

It was nothing short of a brazen display of confidence, as though he was looking down on them.

The two exchanged glances, their gaze landing on Qin Chuan. The seemingly slender figure before them now appeared towering and monumental. The aura of authority he exuded seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment, as if he were a boundless mystery.

"Is this really my father...?"

Qin Zi's heart pounded, filled with admiration. Yet, there was also a trace of anxiety.

What if his father, after regaining his full strength, became a god-like figure—so lofty that he no longer cared about mundane familial ties?

What if... his father no longer acknowledged him as his son?

"Heh, what are you worrying about this time?"

Qin Chuan ruffled his son's hair again. "Just focus on your cultivation. As long as I'm around, no matter what happens, the sky won't fall."

Hearing his father's reassuring words, Qin Zi's fleeting sense of unease melted away. He nodded earnestly, his heart full of determination.

Qin Chuan then turned to Night Frost with a gentle smile. "I've noticed that you haven't passed down your own cultivation technique to Xiao Zi. Is there some reason for that? Or, like me, did you promise someone not to?"

The golden-haired woman lowered her head, biting her lip in silence.

"It seems you truly have your reasons. If you trust us, why not tell us? We're a family, and your troubles are our troubles too," Qin Chuan said, his smile warm and inviting.

Night Frost's body trembled.

Slowly, she lifted her head, a grateful smile appearing on her face. Her golden eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"Thank you... thank you..."

Her voice trembled, and her shoulders shook slightly. She was clearly overwhelmed, almost unable to find the right words.

"Go ahead," Qin Chuan encouraged, his tone soft, his expression gentle.

If one looked closely, they could see a glimmer of curiosity and anticipation in his eyes, as if he was on the verge of discovering a great treasure.

Night Frost took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts before speaking. "My family has already been wiped out."

"The head of the Human Holy Temple's ten great temple masters, the Dragon Subduing Emperor, personally led the assault that annihilated my family. The charge... was treason."

Qin Chuan listened quietly and asked, "Did your family truly commit treason?"

Night Frost clutched her head in anguish, shaking it violently. "I don't know, I don't know... I only heard that our ancestor, the Night Emperor, killed several high-ranking Martial Emperors within the Sacred Domain. He even nearly killed one of the temple masters."

"They say the Night Emperor was eventually surrounded and killed by other temple masters, and after that, the Holy Temple destroyed the Night Emperor family."

Qin Chuan said nothing, contemplating her words.

There was clearly more to the story.

Perhaps it was a personal vendetta between the powerhouses, or perhaps the Night Emperor had been framed. Of course, there was also the possibility that the Night Emperor had truly turned against the Holy Temple. After all, everyone has their reasons.

As for who was right or wrong... that was a more complex question.

But what Qin Chuan knew for certain was that if Qin Zi's connection to the Night Emperor family were exposed, it would bring him tremendous trouble!

Would the truth eventually come out?

Most certainly!

As someone with a touch of foresight, Qin Chuan had a strong feeling that this was inevitable.