"Huh? Teaching you how to do things?"
Qin Zi was stunned for a moment, then roared in anger:
"You old scumbag! Taking advantage of someone's weakness, what kind of skill is that? If you have any guts, fight my father head-on!"
The Holy Temple elder responded indifferently:
"This isn't taking advantage of anyone. Even in a fair fight, he wouldn't be my match."
"Moreover… he doesn't even qualify to make me take action."
Hearing this, Qin Zi's heart surged with fury. This old man, who was trying to reap the rewards without effort, dared to look down on his father!
He took a deep breath and sneered:
"Hmph, it's easy to talk big after the fact, isn't it? The battle was so fierce earlier, but I didn't see you lifting a finger."
"Afraid, aren't you? No need for excuses. You think sticking a green onion in a pig's nose makes you an elephant?"
The Holy Temple elder glanced at Qin Zi and said coldly, "You may think what you like. Why would I care about the opinion of an ant?"
At his level, a mere realm lord was nothing more than an ant, incapable of stirring his emotions.
"An ant?" Qin Zi scoffed, his body beginning to glow, igniting like a blazing sun.
"Rumble!"
He pressed his hands to the ground, slowly lifting his body as though he were Sun Wukong trying to escape from beneath the Five Elements Mountain.
"I, Qin Zi, with a divine body, unparalleled throughout the ages, have shattered countless limits. And you call me an ant?" He glared at the Holy Temple elder coldly, his bones creaking as he straightened up, finally standing tall.
"You, old scum, were just born a few years earlier than me. Why act like some big shot? If we were born in the same era, I could crush you with one hand!"
"Hmm?"
The Holy Temple elder was taken aback, a flash of coldness appearing in his previously indifferent eyes—this kid's talent was terrifying. If left unchecked, he would be a future threat.
However, it wasn't time to act yet. According to the rules, it would be best to capture this person and bring him to the Holy Temple for interrogation and sentencing.
So, he replied with a hint of detachment: "Even if you had been born in my time, a reckless child like you would still have been suppressed by your elders. Do you think you would have grown strong?"
"Shut up!!" Qin Zi shouted sharply. "You're already so old, and you still shamelessly take advantage of others' weakness. What gives you the right to lecture me on righteousness?"
"You think you're so powerful, bullying a young man like me. Does that make you feel superior? Make you proud?"
"But all it shows is that you're a worthless coward! You can only bully the young, because that's all your ambition, your courage, and your potential can handle!"
"Old fool, let me give you some advice… Thirty years of the east river, thirty years of the west—don't underestimate the young and poor!"
Boom!
A powerful aura erupted from his body, like a divine sword piercing the heavens, full of indomitable will.
"You!!"
The Holy Temple elder was momentarily shaken by the sudden surge of power, and his face darkened.
"Hmph, a mere ant dares to be so insolent!"
With a cold snort, an even more oppressive force spread out, once again pinning Qin Zi to the ground.
But despite his cheek pressed against the earth, the mocking expression on Qin Zi's face remained undiminished, growing even more disdainful.
"Haha, old fool, I must have hit a nerve… No matter how you posture today, I look down on you!"
"I know you won't let us go even if I beg, so why should I give you the satisfaction of seeing me grovel?"
"I'll admit I've fallen into your hands today, but if I survive, I swear—when I rise again, I'll destroy your entire clan!"
Qin Zi had made up his mind. Rather than die shamefully, he chose to die defiantly. As they say, a man dies once, a bird flies once—better to go out proudly!
"Hmph, do you think your empty threats can provoke me?"
The Holy Temple elder sneered, looking down on him as if watching a clown, his eyes filled with ridicule and pity.
"However… I don't know whether to congratulate you or pity you. Your words have indeed aroused my killing intent."
"Originally, I had planned to bring you back to the Holy Temple for trial, but as a divine body with great destiny, you are prone to causing trouble. To avoid complications, I've decided… I'll execute you here and now!"
"Come on! I'm not afraid of you!!"
Qin Zi gritted his teeth, glaring fiercely. He would rather die standing than live kneeling—though at the moment, he was actually lying down.
"Your death is well deserved."
The Holy Temple elder snorted, and a murderous aura blossomed from his forehead, transforming into a massive blood blade that slashed toward Qin Zi.
Whoosh!
The blood blade swept across the sky, as if to cleave the heavens themselves. Not even an ordinary Martial Emperor could withstand such a blow!
"Ahhh—"
Qin Zi shut his eyes tightly, lifting his head in defiance, letting out a pained, unwilling cry.
He, Qin Zi, a once-in-a-lifetime divine body, no—super divine body—was really going to perish like this? Heaven must envy talent!
If he had another chance…
"Wait, I'm not dead?"
He opened his eyes in disbelief, only to find that the enormous blood blade had stopped just above his head.
No!
More accurately, a familiar figure in white stood before him, raising a single hand to block the massive blood blade.
"Crack!"
The figure clenched their fingers, shattering the blood blade into fragments that dissolved into the sky as a scattering of blood-colored light.
"Father, you're alright?!"
Qin Zi was overjoyed, like someone who had already sipped the waters of the underworld only to find out the grim reaper had made a mistake.
"I'm hurt, but I can still hold on."
Qin Chuan replied calmly.
Upon closer inspection, Qin Zi noticed blood seeping from his father's back, staining his white robes.
"This!!"
Qin Zi's face paled as concern welled up again.
At that moment, the Holy Temple elder was equally shocked but then sneered:
"I didn't expect you to break through at this moment. However, you've already suffered serious injuries, your energy depleted. Even with your breakthrough, you're a bow with no arrows. If you can't replenish your strength, you'll die even faster."
"And I won't give you the chance to recover!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand, preparing to strike down on Qin Chuan.
Boom!
This palm descended, seeming to flip the heavens, inverting the world and darkening the sun and moon.
This strike didn't manifest as a giant hand, but rather pure, crushing force.
From every direction, it was inescapable!
"Break!"
Qin Chuan punched the sky, reversing the inverted space, restoring balance with a massive explosion.
"Boom!"
The sky cracked open like a frozen river, a thousand-meter-long rift appearing, filled with swirling chaos.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz!"
All Qin Zi could see were flashes of shadows followed by thunderous explosions. The sky seemed to erupt into black holes, like dark suns blooming with no sound.
"Boom!"
At last, the sky shattered like a mirror, with cracks spreading outward and sinking into a vortex of destruction.
From the dark void, an enraged roar echoed:
"Just you wait!!"
And then, the dark void seemed to rewind, quickly vanishing as the sky restored itself to normal.
"Let's go."
Qin Chuan landed in front of Qin Zi, but before his son could respond, he coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.
"Father!"
Qin Zi panicked, unsure what to do.
"This place is dangerous. We must leave now."
The voice of the blonde woman echoed, and she took control of Qin Zi's body, lifting Qin Chuan onto her back as they flew toward the Beast Clan's territory.