Qin Xue cried out in alarm, staring at Waterlon dumbfounded. She pointed a delicate finger at her own nose. "You want to be your master?"
"Yes, Sister! Please accept ! I know you’re an important person from the Qin Family. I’m begging you!" Perhaps buoyed by a surge of spirit, or maybe the Healing Pill had taken effect, Waterlon seed incredibly determined.
"Qin Xue, accept him," Qin Li suddenly said from the side.
Before Qin Xue could answer, Waterlon slamd his head against the ground three tis. THUD! THUD! THUD! When he looked up again, his forehead was bright red.
Qin Xue stood there, at a complete loss. Qin Li chuckled. "Little Waterlon, from now on, rember to call Martial Uncle!"
Waterlon rolled his eyes and promptly fainted, collapsing to the ground. Only then did his parents react, rushing over to carry him into the house. His father was a simple, honest farr who had no idea how to properly thank Qin Li and Qin Xue.
Qin Li waved his hand dismissively and asked Qin Xue, "Do you have any silver left?"
Qin Xue pulled a piece of loose silver from her robes, about one tael, and handed it to Waterlon’s father. "Hurry and find a doctor for Waterlon," she said softly.
"You saved Waterlon... We... how could we possibly take your money..." Waterlon’s father stamred.
"Hehe, didn’t you see? Waterlon is my disciple now. When a disciple is in trouble, it’s the master’s duty to help. Now, take it. Once Waterlon has recovered, have him co find !" Qin Xue said with a light laugh. Then, she and Qin Li took their leave.
On the way back, Qin Li told Qin Xue about Waterlon practicing the Only I am Venerable Cultivation Technique. He then said, "Qin Xue, teach Waterlon the Qin Family’s One-elent Heart thod. That kid is reckless, daring to cultivate such a technique. I was going to ask him about it, but it seems there’s no need now. He certainly won’t be able to replicate the miracle that happened to ."
Qin Xue gave a dazzling smile. "If everyone were like you, Young Master, could they really afford to give that Cultivation Technique away for free?"
Qin Li scratched his head. "You have a point."
"But, Young Master, why did you want to accept Waterlon as my disciple?" ’In her heart, Qin Xue’s loyalty was solely to Qin Li and Qin Hanyue. She might care for others, but she saw no need to get deeply involved. She had a good impression of the boy, but that didn’t an she had to take him as her disciple.’
"Our branch of the family is too weak," Qin Li said softly. "There’s a faction in the Qin Family that’s always watching , looking for revenge. The Shangguan Family isn’t a reliable backer, either. The only ones we can rely on are ourselves. Only ourselves!"
Qin Xue nodded, understanding Qin Li’s intentions. "I understand," she said gently. "Waterlon is a good kid. I hope he can amount to sothing!"
...
That morning, Qin Hanyue, Qin Xue, and Qin Li rented a carriage and stopped at the gates of the Celestial Pride Academy in Yellow Sand City. A woman in her thirties was already waiting there. Upon seeing Qin Hanyue, her eyes reddened, and tears began to stream down her face as she pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Yue, you’re finally willing to show your face! For so many years, every ti I ca to your ho, I was turned away."
"Let’s not talk about the past. Co, let introduce you. This is my son, Qin Li, and this is my handmaiden, Qin Xue."
The woman lifted her head, her eyes glistening with tears. She looked at Qin Li and sighed, "In the blink of an eye, your child has gotten so big!"
Qin Hanyue’s eyes were also red-rimd. She said to Qin Li, "This is your Mrs. Xie, your mother’s best friend."
"A pleasure to et you." Qin Li bowed to the woman. ’He called Qin Hanyue "Mother" because of their blood ties, because of an attachnt deep within his soul. But as for anyone else... he couldn’t quite bring himself to use such familiar terms.’
Fortunately, Mrs. Xie was too preoccupied with catching up with Qin Hanyue to notice Qin Li’s formal address. The four of them headed deeper into the academy grounds.
The testing area wasn’t very large and was quiet inside, with almost no one else around. Mrs. Xie seed to have considerable authority, as she led them straight in.
"I heard Li just recently beca a Martial Artist. Sigh, you’re just too stubborn. I ca looking for you so many tis, bringing Battle Techniques and Heart thods. They weren’t top-tier, but they were better than nothing!" Mrs. Xie said to Qin Hanyue, her tone tinged with complaint. "This ti, you’re not allowed to refuse. Child, use your full strength and hit this!"
Qin Li looked at the red, stone-like object embedded in the wall. He wasn’t sure how it was supposed to conduct the test, so he used about eighty percent of his strength and threw a punch at its red center.
BANG!
A thunderous noise erupted.
Mrs. Xie, who had been talking with Qin Hanyue, froze mid-sentence. She then saw the red stone erupt in a flash of azure light, followed by a cold, chanical voice that echoed through the room.
"Profound Level, Tier Four."
"What?" All four people in the room stood frozen in shock.
Qin Li wasn’t surprised that he possessed the strength of a Profound Level, Tier Four cultivator. He had been an expert in his past life, and after personally experiencing the suffocating pressure of soone like Qin Shisan, he didn’t feel a Profound Level Martial Artist was anything to be proud of. ’What surprises is this testing device... How can it be so much like a high-tech product?’
The other three, however, were utterly stunned by Qin Li’s true strength. The corner of Mrs. Xie’s mouth twitched violently. Her eyes glead as she grabbed Qin Hanyue’s hand. "Yue, you... why didn’t you tell sooner? Heavens... H-how old is he?"
Qin Hanyue was also stunned. ’Even though I’ve always thought my son is the most outstanding man in the world, that’s just a mother’s bias. I was sure I knew his actual strength. How could he have jumped from Yellow Level, Tier One, to Profound Level, Tier Four, in just a few days? Even if the Only I am Venerable Cultivation Technique is one-of-a-kind, this speed... it’s just too fast!’
Responding to her best friend’s question, Qin Hanyue answered instinctively, "Thirteen!"
"Heavens, I’ve struck gold! I’ve struck gold!" Mrs. Xie was ecstatic. "Yue, you must enroll your son here with ! He’s an absolute genius! Thirteen! My god, that Qin Feng from your Qin Family was only at Tier Five when he was thirteen, wasn’t he? Your son is every bit as strong as him, if not stronger!"
Qin Hanyue’s mind went blank. All she could think was, ’My son... he’s even more brilliant than Qin Feng. My son is this brilliant!’
Mrs. Xie was right. Qin Feng was undeniably a genius, but what kind of cultivation environnt had he grown up in? From childhood, he’d had the best of everything, including all sorts of Elixirs to boost his strength! And Qin Li? He hadn’t even learned a single Battle Technique or Heart thod.
If he wasn’t a genius, then who was?
Watching his dazed mother and the gesticulating Xie, Qin Li quietly asked Qin Xue, "What’s the deal with this strength-testing device? How is it so miraculous?"
Qin Xue was stumped by his question. After thinking for a long mont, she said, "Huh? ...Um, it’s existed since ancient tis... I don’t know where it ca from. No one’s ever asked that before!"
Qin Li froze, then gave a wry smile. ’It seems every world has its own path of developnt. Any field, when taken to its extre, is sothing to be reckoned with.’
’Just like that bright, luxurious crystal chandelier in the Qin Family’s ho—wasn’t it powered by so kind of Crystal Stone I’d never seen before?’
With that thought, Qin Li decided not to dwell on the question. ’What exists, exists for a reason.’ Seeing his mother seed tempted by Xie’s proposal, Qin Li quickly interjected, "Mother, I’m joining a team for an expedition tomorrow. I won’t be attending the academy."
Qin Hanyue considered it. ’It’s true, there’s no real need for him to enter the academy now. I’ve already taught him what I can, and what he wants to learn now is beyond what the academy can offer.’ With this realization, Qin Hanyue politely declined her friend’s offer and begged her to keep the matter a secret. Leaving the disappointed and slightly reproachful Mrs. Xie behind, the three of them departed from the Celestial Pride Academy in high spirits.
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