Endless Ascension

Chapter 10: Refusal

Encountering a BOSS in a game without any health potions, mana, or stamina is indeed a dire situation. Qin Ze's predicament is precisely that—suddenly confronted with a humanoid BOSS, and he's left feeling helpless and frustrated.

Faced with Qin Xiangtian, resplendent in golden light, Qin Ze finds himself uncontrollably salivating, as if he were facing an alluring beauty slowly stripping off her clothes to tempt him. It's a mix of excitement and distress.

Without sufficient qi gong, he can't activate the Dragon Elephant Void Scripture, and even if he could, he knows he's no match for Qin Xiangtian. Having barely endured a devastating blow, Qin Ze's internal organs are still reeling, his life force halved.

The onlookers are perplexed, wondering how Qin Ze can still manage a smile when facing his mortal enemy.

Could he have been stunned by the earlier qi gong blast?

Ignoring the murmurs, Qin Xiangtian's steps quicken as his anger boils over at seeing his son lying helpless on the ground. He yearns to crush Qin Ze beneath his palm.

Qin Ze, however, feels no fear. Instead, he muses, "A BOSS will always initiate the attack."

"Just wait, I'll take you down eventually."

"The experience points from a BOSS are always generous..."

"Maybe there'll even be a treasure trove of loot..."

Has Qin Ze lost his mind?

Everyone in the training ground, save for Meng Lei, believes so.

Another moment's hesitation will mean death under Qin Xiangtian's palm.

"Young Master..." Meng Lei exclaims anxiously, rushing to shield Qin Ze, but his speed is no match for Qin Xiangtian, who stands at the pinnacle of the Quliang realm.

Yet, even the peak of the Quliang realm pales in comparison to the might of the Lianggang realm.

Amidst the crowd, a dark figure flashed, leaving behind a trail of illusory shadows.

"Enough!"

The voice thundered down even before the person arrived.

Clad in a black long robe, with two sword-like eyebrows piercing straight out, his body exuded a faint radiance. As he landed, a wave of qi erupted around him, clashing directly with Qin Xiangtian's qigong and dissipating it instantly.

Qin Zhantian stood proudly in front of Qin Ze, hands behind his back, facing Qin Xiangtian.

The patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Zhantian.

"The realm of Refining the Qi-sheath is indeed formidable. The gap is too vast; I must work harder."

Qin Ze felt Qin Zhantian's depth to be immeasurable. Intangibly, the aura emanating from Qin Zhantian's body neutralized Qin Xiangtian's fierce qigong, something not easily accomplished by ordinary individuals.

The first master of the Qin family was indeed extraordinary.

Qin Xiangtian was secretly startled, muttering to himself, "He's actually broken through to the Refining the Qi-sheath realm!"

He was shocked to see the radiant aura emanating from Qin Zhantian's body, a clear indication of the Refining the Qi-sheath realm. Qin Zhantian, a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Qin family, had unexpectedly broken through to this realm at the young age of forty. Truly a genius.

"Patriarch, greetings."

Hundreds of disciples in the martial arts arena bowed in unison, their voices resounding. In their hearts, the patriarch was a god-like figure, effortlessly dispelling the peak-level qigong of the Spirit Gathering realm with a single move, demonstrating terrifying strength.

"You're excused."

Qin Zhantian chuckled, his tone amiable. He glanced at Qin Kun lying on the ground, walked over, lifted him up, and placed a palm gently against his back. Slowly, he channeled a milky white qigong, which seeped into Qin Kun's body, gradually restoring his pale complexion to a healthy flush, and his eyes slowly opened.

"Well, he should be fine now." Qin Zhantian smiled as he helped Qin Kun up, then pulled a bottle of pills from his robe and handed them to Qin Xiangtian. "Here are three Nourishing Spirit Pills. Give them to him, and he'll recover fully."

Qin Xiangtian received the pills, bowing slightly, and stealthily glancing at Qin Ze not far away, his fists tightening slightly.

"Nourishing Spirit Pills? They're actually Nourishing Spirit Pills."

"Those are third-grade medicinal herbs."

"The Chief Clan Elder is indeed generous."

Qin Kun regained consciousness, his spirit slightly damped, but his face contorted with anger as he glared fiercely at Qin Ze. "I won't let you off easily."

"Disrespectful!" Qin Xiangtian admonished softly.

With the Chief Clan Elder present, Qin Kun should have known to restrain himself, but it seemed he was either foolish or simply accustomed to his arrogance.

Qin Zhantian felt a hint of displeasure but did not show it, merely furrowing his brow slightly.

Qin Xiangtian, quick to notice even the slightest gesture, immediately apologized, "My son lacks manners. Please forgive him, Chief Clan Elder."

Qin Zhantian waved his hand dismissively and said calmly, "Take him back to heal. Hopefully, he'll recover in time for the Autumn Hunt Competition."

"Yes, sir."

Qin Kun's face twisted with annoyance, yet he dared not lash out. Instead, he glared at Qin Ze with murder in his eyes. Today, he had lost face in the training ground, and his hatred for Qin Ze burned fiercely within him.

Qin Ze had witnessed everything Qin Zhantian had done, silently assessing Qin Xiangtian's weight in the Qin Clan. Even the Chief Clan Elder gave him deference; his status within the clan was undeniable.

Although Qin Ze was displeased with Qin Zhantian's leniency, he dared not speak out. He was merely a sixth-level warrior, a mere 'shrimp' in the grand scheme of things, and surviving on his own was already a blessing.

Had Qin Zhantian not intervened, Qin Ze would surely have perished.

Qin Ze was not arrogant enough to believe he could match Qin Xiangtian in a fight.

As Qin Xiangtian helped Qin Kun walk away, Qin Zhantian smiled faintly and approached Qin Ze, pulling out a bottle of Soul-Nurturing Pills. "Here are ten Soul-Nurturing Pills. Take care of your body, and give your all in the Autumn Hunt Competition."

Qin Ze's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself, "Ten Soul-Nurturing Pills? Even clan disciples can't receive ten of these in a year. His generosity is truly astounding."

Without hesitation, he accepted the pills and tucked them into his robes.

To forgo such an opportunity would be inhuman.

Moreover, he desperately needed these pills to replenish his qi gong. Glancing secretly at the pills' properties, he felt a small thrill.

Nourishing Spirit Pill

Grade: Third-Grade

Effect: Clears the mind, enhances mental clarity, replenishes physical strength, and promotes the smooth flow of meridians.

Health Points: 500

Qi Gong Points: 300

Survival Value: 50

Compared to the properties of the Dragon and Tiger Pill, the Nourishing Spirit Pill seemed woefully inadequate. Qin Ze now realized the true potency of the Dragon and Tiger Pill left to him by Cang Tianji, which he had previously dismissed as worthless.

Qin Ze was grateful that he hadn't discarded the Dragon and Tiger Pill in a fit of anger.

However, he was unaware of the significance of pills to martial practitioners. Low-grade pills were often in short supply, and high-quality pills were practically priceless. If Qin Ze were to buy the Nourishing Spirit Pills he held in the market, each would cost at least a thousand taels of silver, and they were rarely available for purchase.

The Tianyuan Continent was filled with countless martial practitioners and cultivators, but alchemists were exceedingly rare.

A low-grade alchemist could prop up an entire family, while a high-grade alchemist would be courted and revered by powerful factions and sects alike.

Coincidentally, the Qin family possessed a low-grade alchemist in Qin Zhantian's own sister, Qin Pei, which was the reason Qin Zhantian, despite his young age, had been able to ascend to the position of clan patriarch.

"Thank you, Patriarch," Qin Ze bowed in gratitude.

Qin Zhantian smiled and said, "Move back to the Qin mansion tomorrow. It will be more convenient for your future cultivation."

Qin Ze knew that Qin Zhantian would make such a request.

But he was not a dog of the Qin family to be summoned and dismissed at will.

Ten Nourishing Spirit Pills were not enough to lure him back.

Your offer is too low.

Qin Ze did not harbor deep feelings for the Qin family, nor did he feel particularly grateful to Qin Zhantian. When his dantian was shattered, he had been treated like a prisoner in the Qin mansion, despised by all, even below the status of servants. Had Qin Zhantian ever spoken up for him?

Having been maliciously framed by Qin Xiangtian in the past, Qin Ze was abruptly exiled from the Qin Clan with a mere transfer order, reduced to a humble odd-jobber at the Lotus Blossom Tavern. There, he struggled with hunger, cold, and even slept in a pigsty, yet Qin Zhantian never once criticized or blamed anyone for Qin Ze's plight.

Qin Ze was no fool to be overly grateful for Qin Zhantian's minor gestures of kindness. Living under the same roof as Qin Xiangtian, a formidable foe who actively sought to harm him, his safety was constantly in jeopardy.

His display of strength was a strategic move, seeking refuge that would buy him the time he needed to grow stronger.

But he didn't want to stay within the Qin Clan.

At least, not now. He intended to return, but only after three years, when he could walk into the Qin Clan with his head held high and present a different picture altogether.

Three years later, Qin Ze would be eighteen, and it would be the final assessment of the Qin Clan.