"You can't escape, boy!" Qin Li shouted as he chased after Qin Yang. "I've already heard from Nangong Ling and the others—the entrance to the secret realm has moved again. No one can find the new location except members of the Qin Family!"
Qin Yang snorted coldly. "Members of the Qin Family? Bullshit! I'm the true member of the Qin Family! Who exactly are you people?"
Qin Li's face twisted, every wrinkle radiating murderous intent.
The chase continued until they reached a small hill, where Qin Li finally managed to block Qin Yang's path.
Qin Yang glanced at their position and chuckled softly. Beyond this hill lay the fire dog. He might not be able to kill Qin Li himself, but the fire dog could!
"Who else is in the Qin Family besides you?" Qin Li demanded, his voice low and threatening.
Qin Yang arched an eyebrow, his tone dripping with mockery. "What, finally admitting you're the imposter now?"
Qin Li's jaw clenched. "We're not imposters!"
"Then what exactly do you mean by 'the Qin Family'?" Qin Yang pressed.
Qin Li scanned their surroundings—no one else was present. Dropping all pretense, he said bluntly, "Tell me who else is in the Qin Family, and I'll explain what's going on with the Qin Family in this secret realm. How's that?"
"You've decided to kill me, so you act without restraint. But since I'm doomed to die anyway, why should I speak?" Qin Yang blinked, his eyes glinting. "Do you take me for a fool?"
Qin Li stared at Qin Yang with cold intensity. "At least I can grant you the courtesy of understanding your fate."
The corner of Qin Yang's mouth twitched upward. This aligned perfectly with his own desires—he too sought to unravel the mystery of the Qin Family within this secret realm.
"Very well, I'll tell you," Qin Yang declared. "The Qin Family has only one remaining member. I am its sole descendant!"
Qin Li scrutinized Qin Yang's expression, confirming the truth of his words.
"Hahaha!" Qin Li roared with laughter. "After a thousand years, the Qin Family's fortunes finally turn!"
Qin Yang's brow furrowed deeply. "Even now, you still claim the Qin Family's name?"
Qin Li's mirth vanished. "Precisely! From this day forth, we are the Qin Family of the God Dao Clan, no longer slaves to the Qin name!"
Qin Yang froze. Could it be that the Qin Family within this secret realm had once been mere servants of the original Qin Family?
Qin Li's satisfaction grew. With this boy's death, all evidence questioning their family's true identity would vanish.
Qin Li began his account: "A thousand years ago, the Qin Family faced a formidable enemy and was destroyed. Our masters showed no mercy to us servants, allowing our ancestors to lead us into this secret realm..."
As Qin Li spoke, Qin Yang quickly pieced together the situation.
The enemy had been overwhelmingly powerful, forcing their way into the pseudo-secret realm. The ruins of the Qin Family on the continent were actually the former dwellings of the family's servants from a millennium past.
With the Qin Family destroyed, the servants had fled in panic to this hidden sanctuary.
A thousand years had passed. They dared not leave the secret realm, even as it gradually deteriorated. Unable to break through to higher cultivation realms, their highest attainable level remained the Zongshi Realm. They had remained trapped in this state for generations.
During their prolonged seclusion, they had continuously gathered intelligence. Finally, after enduring for so long, they sought to reclaim their position as masters.
Considering the Heavenly Secrets Sect's prophecy that descendants of the Qin Family would appear during the demonic beast tide, they planned to use this opportunity to return to the continent.
They devised a series of schemes, using Qin Lie as bait and fabricating a false Qin Family descendant. Then, they would emerge as the "true" Qin Family heirs. This would create enough confusion to make people believe their claim.
Once they gained the world's recognition, even if true descendants of the Qin Family emerged, they could simply accuse them of impersonation and eliminate them.
Little did they know, the pawn they had thrown out had already been slain by Qin Yang before it could serve its purpose.
Qin Yang chuckled, "It seems my appearance has completely resolved your lingering concerns."
Qin Li's mood lifted. "Exactly! Your existence was always a threat. We never expected you'd actually fulfill the Heavenly Secrets Sect's prophecy and appear during the beast tide. But you chose the wrong path—Heaven offers a way, yet you insist on forcing open Hell's gates. You've delivered yourself to us!"
He added, "And the Lou Clan's maiden is truly heaven-sent. All preparations are complete, the east wind favorable! Once we arrange their wedding, we'll form an alliance with one of the Eight Divine Clans. From then on, we'll be recognized as legitimate members of the Eight Divine Clans!"
"Ultimately, you're still just slaves," Qin Yang countered. "You can't hide forever. Aren't you afraid of being exposed someday?"
Qin Li laughed. "Exposure? Impossible! Though we're servants of the Qin Family, we share their surname too! We've mastered their cultivation techniques and martial arts, even if only superficially. This is enough to gain the world's recognition! Once we form an alliance with the Lou Clan and re-enter society, our descendants' talent will surely perfect those arts!"
"Perfect those arts?" Qin Yang shook his head disdainfully. "With Qin Wuyi? His Shocking Sword Finger hasn't even grasped the basics, and his Dragon Soaring Steps are nothing but an empty name - he can't even mimic the form!"
His gaze turned even more contemptuous as he looked at Qin Lie. "And you? That powerful Crazy Dragon Palm in your hands is like a broken sword - you've ruined it completely."
Qin Li's face flushed with anger. "You insolent wretch! Still spouting nonsense when death looms! You know all you need to know. Do us a favor and die quietly! The Qin Family will flourish through our efforts!"
Qin Yang erupted in fury. "You wicked slave! The Qin Family treated you generously, entrusted you with our secret arts, yet when disaster came, you fled like rats! To ignore our kindness is one thing, but now you dare usurp our place?!"
Qin Yang took a deep breath, his gaze sharp as he declared, "The heavens have their own designs, bringing me here to meet you all. Let's see whether it's you dog-like slaves who triumph, or I who cleanses the Qin Family's gates!"
"Cleanse the gates? Hah! You need more than just the will—you need the strength!" Qin Li's face flushed crimson as he struck forward with a palm strike.
His true energy transformed into a raging dragon, its overwhelming force bearing down with lethal intent.
Though merely a superficial imitation of the technique, the true energy dragon's display from a Zongshi Realm practitioner remained formidable.
Qin Yang tensed, forced to evade this devastating strike.
"Body flows like a soaring dragon, swift as a startled swan—covering thousands of miles in an instant, leaving no trace behind!"
He executed the pinnacle of the Dragon Soaring Steps. Though not yet a Zongshi Realm expert, fully unleashing his Qi Sea Realm power allowed him to barely defend himself.
Qin Li's eyes widened in disbelief, unable to comprehend what he witnessed.
Qin Yang's body moved with divine serpentine grace—unpredictable, leaving no shadow or trace. This was the unmistakable mark of the Dragon Soaring Steps reaching its great enlightenment stage!
Fortunately, Qin Yang remained at the Qi Sea Realm. Had he reached the Zongshi Realm and unleashed the Dragon Soaring Steps, even with all my strength, I wouldn't have been able to touch even the hem of his clothes!
"Truly heaven favors me, making you meet me now! Give you any more time, and who knows what might happen?" Qin Li gritted his teeth, the Crazy Dragon Palm following relentlessly.
His true qi formed a raging dragon that clamped down on Qin Yang, missing by a hair's breadth from crushing him instantly!
Qin Yang retreated continuously, then climbed over a small hill. Suddenly, a wave of fire surged toward him!
The air's temperature skyrocketed. Qin Yang sneered, "Open your eyes and see clearly - does heaven truly favor you or not?"
"Fire Dog! Kill him, and I'll grant you freedom!" Qin Yang stared at the Fire Dog nearby. With a thought, he communicated through the Dragon Jade, his eyes radiating faint dragon authority.