Chapter 28: The Duel with the Grandson

Yunqi Kingdom was one of the most unremarkable cultivation realms in the Eastern Domain’s Alliance of Cultivators. Tucked away in a remote corner, its spiritual resources were modest, and so the nation’s overall strength was ranked near the bottom among its peers. Yet, even so, within Yunqi’s borders, a multitude of cultivation sects and great clans thrived, each struggling for self-improvement and painting a scene of prosperity.

The favorable atmosphere for cultivation meant that every year, countless people within Yunqi Kingdom set their sights on the path of immortality, seeking greater power and the mysteries of the Dao, all in the hope of extending their lives.

Yet, it seemed that all cultivators, once they gained sufficient strength, were drawn to a life of transcendence and detachment. Thus, they preferred to reside in secluded paradises, far removed from the mundane world, fitting the air of immortals.

There was a saying in Yunqi Kingdom that everyone knew by heart—

Shu Sword, Earth Corpse, Skywind City.

These three were the most powerful factions in Yunqi today: the leading sect, the ancient clan, and the mighty city.

And the last one, Skywind City, was precisely where the disciples of the Qin family from Luoyang Town were heading—the ancestral stronghold of the Qin clan in Yunqi, the sacred place all its disciples aspired to reach.

Skywind City was perched atop the Skywind Gorge, a land of breathtaking beauty, shrouded perpetually in swirling winds. Sunlight, filtered through the spinning currents, scattered into radiant colors, making the scenery appear more like a celestial realm than the mortal world.

Luoyang Town was not far from Skywind City. Moreover, Qin Tianzheng, having already received word from the main house, knew that on the day of the Soul Awakening Ceremony, the Qin disciples from Luoyang Town were scheduled to enter the pool as the one hundred and twenty-third group. Thus, it sufficed for them to set off early that morning.

Qin Tianzheng glanced back. Upon the back of the qilin beast, forty-two Qin disciples made the journey. If any of them could awaken the Dragon Soul bloodline in this ceremony, the status of the Luoyang Qin clan would soar.

Especially the youth at his side—Qin Feng. Qin Tianzheng’s hopes for him were higher still.

The future of the Qin family, he feared, would rest upon this boy’s shoulders.

The qilin’s speed was astonishing. In less than half a day, they arrived at Skywind City, a name that resonated throughout Yunqi Kingdom.

Built between two mountains, the city looked from afar as if it were suspended in the air, borne aloft by a massive vortex, hovering in the gorge. The sight left the young Qin disciples, who had rarely seen such wonders, shouting in awe.

“Look at you—have some composure!” Qin Tianzheng barked, and the group quickly fell silent, though their curious eyes continued to roam.

Yet among them, one youth’s expression remained unchanged—Qin Feng.

He was unmoved, not out of feigned calm, but because he had been here before.

He had come as a small child, riding on his father’s back. Here, his father had begged many people on his behalf, enduring countless humiliations, yet…

At that thought, Qin Feng closed his eyes.

“Father, all that you once lost for my sake, I will reclaim for you—twice over!”

At his side, Qin Tianzheng cast a complicated glance at Qin Feng, but turned his attention back to the qilin, forming a seal with his hand and slowing the beast’s pace.

“Who goes there? State your names!”

A stern voice rang out. Qin Feng opened his eyes and looked toward the source.

A young man in blue armor stood atop a great black eagle, commanding them with authority.

Qin Tianzheng did not dare be negligent. He straightened his expression and replied, “Qin Tianzheng, head of the Qin family from Luoyang Town, here with my clan’s disciples to participate in the Soul Awakening Ceremony.”

“Luoyang Town, the Qin family?” The armored youth’s expression softened. Producing a register, he traced it with spiritual energy, nodded, and waved. “Follow me. Mind your flight—stray, and not even I can protect you.”

With that, he turned and flew toward the heart of Skywind City.

“Yes!” Qin Tianzheng replied, hastening to guide the qilin after him.

They encountered countless whirling currents along the way, but under the blue-armored cultivator’s guidance, they avoided disaster. The cyclones above Skywind City moved in mysterious patterns, great and small, swirling, darting unpredictably—some appearing out of thin air, their edges slicing the sky like blades. Qin Tianzheng’s solemn demeanor and held breath made it clear to Qin Feng that these were no ordinary winds.

“It must be the work of a formation,” Qin Feng murmured, frowning.

To his surprise, Qin Tianzheng overheard him and, startled, replied, “Indeed. That’s the famous Ninefold Skywind Formation, laid by the ten elders of the previous generation. It’s riddled with deadly traps—one misstep and the wind blades will leave nothing behind.”

Just then, the blue-armored cultivator called out, “Attention ahead! There’s a massive vortex—fly straight through. Don’t falter!”

“Yes!” came the reply. The youth urged his eagle straight into the swirling wind and vanished. Gritting his teeth, Qin Tianzheng followed suit, guiding the qilin into the heart of the cyclone.

Immediately, a tempest raged around them, wind lashing like knives, battering the group until they staggered and their faces stung too much to open their eyes. Beneath them, the qilin was carried by the cyclone, its massive rotational force lifting them ever upwards.

The violent spinning was disorienting, and more than one person lost their composure, retching. But before they had time to adjust, the wind hurled them out of the vortex into sudden clarity—where the sight before them left them rooted in shock.

Majestic. Grand. Awe-inspiring.

Such words barely did the scene justice.

Mountains, towers, suspended stairways, ancient temples, waterfalls, and winding rivers—all impressive, but it was the colossal square, crowded with tens of thousands of Qin disciples awaiting the Soul Awakening Ceremony, that truly set hearts pounding with anticipation.

The square lay at the very heart of Skywind City. At its center stood the Hall of the Dragon, the sacred ground of the Qin family’s legacy in Yunqi Kingdom. Before the Hall, upon a high dais, sat the Ancestral Dragon Blood Pool—nine interconnected pools, at whose heart coiled an immense jade dragon. From its mouth, a sanguine liquid spewed into the air, falling like rain into the nine pools. Each pool could hold a hundred people, yet the waters glowed with a piercing blue light. As more disciples entered, the pools bubbled and boiled, sending up columns of blue vapor that writhed atop the surface like living dragons.

As the Luoyang group marveled, a steward approached Qin Tianzheng, gesturing to a small space at the northeast corner of the square. “Your position is one hundred and twenty-third. Prepare yourselves—you’ll be up in five rounds. Don’t be late.”

“Thank you, steward,” Qin Tianzheng replied, leading his group to their assigned spot. As they neared, he dismissed the qilin, stowing away its talisman, and used his spiritual energy to gently guide everyone to the ground.

No sooner had the Luoyang Qin disciples found their footing than an elderly man with a red face and snow-white hair stepped out from the group at position one hundred and twenty-two. He called out in a loud, mocking voice, “Well, you’re late! I thought you’d lost all face this year and wouldn’t show!”

Qin Tianzheng paused, his expression darkening as he recognized the man. “Qin Tiantai! So it’s you, old scoundrel. I see Baigreen Town’s overall ranking is ahead of ours this year. Seems your town has produced a few talents lately.”

Qin Tiantai, his face agleam with pride, laughed heartily. “Indeed! We’ve had some promising seedlings these past years. This time, I’ve brought the best—a true genius. If he awakens a dragon soul of Xuan rank or higher today, our town’s standing will rise even further.”

“Oh? Even you could nurture such a prodigy?” Qin Tianzheng was visibly surprised.

Qin Tiantai’s pride swelled. He cast a glance at Qin Tianzheng, then toward his own ranks, the challenge in his eyes unmistakable. “Of course! He’s my own grandson, no less. Hah!”

Qin Tianzheng bristled. The two towns had always been rivals, their elders warring for a lifetime, neither willing to concede. Their rankings often traded places, but this time, having fallen behind, Qin Tianzheng’s temper flared. Eyes reddened, he retorted, “Don’t think you’re the only one with a grandson. I have a fine grandson too—just you wait!”

So provoked, Qin Tiantai’s face flushed even deeper. “Is that so? Then let’s see whose grandson is superior!”

“Fine, you’ll see soon enough!”

“Hmph!”

What started as good-natured banter grew heated, and the two parted on sour terms.

After a moment, however, Qin Tianzheng couldn’t help himself. He called over, “Hey, old man, we were delayed—what’s the tally so far? Tell me how the earlier rounds went.”

Qin Tiantai grumbled but replied, “The main house went first—one awakened an Earth-grade Dragon Soul, two awakened Xuan-grade, seven awakened Yellow-grade, over a hundred got Chi souls, over three hundred Jiao souls, and not a single Snake soul. Then came the branch families from each town…” Here his tone faltered, a hint of bitterness in his voice. “So far, among the more than a hundred towns that have entered, only one person has awakened a Yellow-grade Dragon Soul. The highest for the rest has been a Tian-grade Chi soul; most got Jiao souls, and there have been quite a few Snake souls as well…”