Chapter Thirty-Five: Studying the Soul of Death

After leaving the mountain cave, Qin Dingtian handed the two over to a steward within the ancient clan, then took Qin Feng and prepared to return immediately to Tianfeng City.

Outsiders were not permitted to linger within the ancient clan.

As they parted, Qin Shaohong wore an expression that practically screamed, “Just you wait!”—a warning that when he left the ancient clan, it would be time for revenge. Qin Feng, however, was utterly disdainful of it. To say nothing of anything else, just at present, as soon as Qin Fatty saw Qin Dingtian leave, his first act would likely be to give Qin Shaohong a good beating. During their days in the ancient clan, as long as Qin Fatty was around, Qin Shaohong’s life would be anything but easy.

Besides, who could say what the future held?

Qin Feng did not sink into despair. Though he had awakened a dead serpent soul, it was still better than having no soul at all. Moreover, a casual remark from Qin Fatty earlier had lingered in Qin Feng’s mind.

“Qin Feng, I always felt you were mysterious, gave me a strange feeling. When you awakened your soul, you caused such a commotion and absorbed so much energy—how could it all just vanish into thin air? I think you really ought to study that dead black serpent soul of yours. Perhaps there’s an unexpected surprise waiting for you.”

This was Fatty’s original words during a chat, and they had awakened Qin Feng as if from a dream.

All along, Qin Feng had been absorbed in a heavy mood, never settling down to carefully investigate the nature of his bloodline soul. Now, a sense of urgency to study it stirred within him.

The teleportation array activated once more.

The ancient clan still resembled a painting in the mountains, secluded from the world. The mountain guardian slave squatted atop the giant stone as always, unchanged through the ages, as if petrified, without a trace of life.

The hexagram star of the teleportation array flashed, and both figures vanished in an instant.

This grand teleportation array was indeed extraordinary—within a few heartbeats, Qin Feng and Qin Dingtian had returned.

The scene shifted again; Qin Feng was now on the back mountain of Tianfeng City.

After leaving the teleportation array, Qin Dingtian waved his hand to conceal it once more with an illusion formation. Once everything was arranged, he drew Qin Feng along and returned to the city.

As city lord, Qin Dingtian rarely involved himself too deeply in affairs. Yet regarding Qin Feng, he felt a strange, inexplicable connection—perhaps due to Qin Feng’s father’s deeds years ago, or perhaps out of regret for the fall of a prodigy. After a moment’s contemplation, he spoke earnestly: “Child, I trust you understood the meaning behind the Grand Elder’s words. Cultivation is, by nature, an act against heaven—hard and arduous, with countless paths to tread. Where your path lies, I cannot say, but I believe every child of the Qin family possesses their own courage and pride. I hope you can stand tall; don’t let the matter of your bloodline soul shake your resolve to grow strong. With your perseverance and talent, even if you walk a different road, you’ll surely forge a broad avenue truly your own.”

Having lived for centuries, it was rare for Qin Dingtian to speak so sincerely to a junior.

Qin Feng straightened his expression and immediately offered a disciple’s salute, signifying he had taken the lesson to heart.

All in all, the Qin family had shown great kindness to him and his father. Though the journey was fraught with twists and humiliation, these trials were themselves tempering for the soul. Without the hardships of childhood, Qin Feng might not have been able to quickly steady his mind after such a heavy blow.

“Well, feel free to wander Tianfeng City and relax, but avoid the forbidden places at all costs.”

Qin Dingtian nodded, entrusted Qin Feng to a steward at his side, then turned and departed.

Tianfeng City’s Soul Awakening Day this year had become chaotic thanks to Qin Feng’s disruption. He would have to step forward soon to calm the unrest. Fortunately, he had obtained a drop of Ancestral Dragon Blood—this was the key to resolving the current chaos. Otherwise, the Qin disciples who had failed to awaken their bloodline souls might resent Qin Feng for life.

For this, Qin Feng could only offer a silent apology.

After all, with his current abilities, he could not help the others much.

Now, what Qin Feng wished most was to seize time and study his dead serpent soul.

Led by a steward, Qin Feng was brought to the temporary residence of the Qin family from Luoyang Town. This was a separate manor, distinct from those arranged for other Qin family disciples from various towns. It seemed Qin Dingtian had taken care to prevent Qin Feng’s troubles from stirring public anger and bringing retaliation upon the Qin family of Luoyang Town.

From afar, Qin Feng saw an elderly man with a slightly hunched back waiting anxiously at the gate—the sight tugged painfully at Qin Feng’s heart.

It was Qin Tianzheng, his grandfather.

At that moment, the old man saw Qin Feng returning and hurried forward. Faced once again with Qin Tianzheng’s caring gaze, Qin Feng’s eyes unexpectedly shimmered with tears.

“Grandfather…”

“Good child, it’s enough that you’re back. Come, let’s go in.”

Qin Tianzheng asked nothing, simply took Qin Feng’s hand and led him inside.

The steward, having delivered Qin Feng, remained vigilant outside the manor, evidently wary of troublemakers and determined to prevent further incidents.

Qin Feng nodded and followed his grandfather inside.

Once through the door, Qin Tianzheng refrained from asking about the bloodline soul, deliberately avoiding the topic, clearly afraid of touching Qin Feng’s pain. He only inquired about the ancient clan and whether the Grand Elder had given him a hard time.

Though Qin Tianzheng was head of the branch family in Luoyang Town, he had never had the chance to see the ancient clan. Now, Qin Feng had gone there, but not for glory, so Qin Tianzheng’s mood was subdued.

Qin Feng did not hide anything, recounting events honestly.

After chatting for a while, Qin Feng excused himself to his room—he was eager to study his dead serpent soul.

Once the door was closed, Qin Feng focused his mind, and the dead serpent appeared, lying belly-up on the floor. The bloodline soul was the essence of his bloodline, and once it took form, it lurked within his body. With a thought, it could be summoned forth at any time.

Qin Feng squatted down and, for the first time, observed it carefully.

As time passed, his anxious expression gradually grew calm, then solemn.

“This can’t be…”

Qin Feng was astonished—he had discovered a shocking secret.

The dead serpent’s forehead bore a vertical line, purple-gray in color, identical to the one on Qin Feng’s own forehead.

“Is it contagious?”

That was the first suspicion to arise in Qin Feng’s mind.

If it truly was contagious, it would be strange indeed—could a bloodline soul contract some bizarre illness? No, recalling what had happened within his body that day, the black radiance had fiercely devoured his bloodline soul, yet the soul had resisted strongly and even devoured some of the black radiance in turn.

“Could it have mutated?”

As soon as this thought emerged, Qin Feng’s eyes flashed with excitement.

The more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed.

However, at present, even if mutation had occurred, it was likely not a good thing—because when Qin Feng activated the Azure Dragon Tempering Technique, the rate at which his body absorbed vital energy was not even a tenth of what it had been.

After awakening the bloodline soul, instead of accelerating his cultivation, he had regressed dramatically. The tiny hope that had just been kindled within him was extinguished once again.

It seemed his bloodline soul had indeed mutated, but not in a favorable direction.

“I’ll have to find some information on bloodline soul mutations,” Qin Feng muttered after a moment’s contemplation.

He conducted numerous experiments with his bloodline soul, but all were fruitless. Aside from the slow absorption of vital energy—a small mercy—none of the innate abilities or supernatural powers typical of bloodline souls manifested, not even a shadow.

“Enough. At least I can still cultivate. However difficult it may be, there’s still hope. I’ve never been defeated by hardship!”

Qin Feng clenched his fist and spoke fiercely.

Though fate seemed unjust, whether in his past or present life, Qin Feng had never bowed before adversity. As long as he could continue cultivating, he would never give up.

No matter how difficult, he would not give up!

This was the faith Qin Feng had always upheld, the path he insisted upon.

With this thought, he banished all distractions from his mind. Once clarity returned, Qin Feng sat quietly and began cultivating.

As the first trace of vital energy, with great difficulty, entered his body, the dead serpent soul unexpectedly gave a subtle tremor. But absorbed in cultivation, Qin Feng failed to notice…