Chapter 304: Conning a Cripple
However, when Lu Yang said he had found the reincarnation of Qin Haoran, that was unacceptable.
If they found the reincarnation of Qin Haoran, then what was he?
Young Master Qin had a clear understanding of himself. His existence’s purpose was to seamlessly inherit Qin Haoran’s legacy.
Even though he was the same age as Lu Yang and already at the late Foundation Building stage, advancing faster than Lu Yang’s junior disciples, his cultivation talent wasn’t as good as it appeared. The Nine Nether Sect’s upper echelons had enhanced his cultivation to make him appear as talented as Qin Haoran, artificially boosting his power.
This method of forcibly accelerating growth came with severe consequences. Future cultivation would be extremely difficult, making advancement to the Unity stage nearly impossible. He might be stuck at the Void Refinement stage, or even lower, for life.
“Who do you say is my reincarnation?” Young Master Qin glared at Lu Yang, feeling an intense urge to devour him.
“Who are you?” Lu Yang was puzzled. Little Seven had mentioned that Master Mi always came alone for safety. Why was there now a late Foundation Building cultivator and a hidden Spirit Transformation stage bodyguard?
Whose illegitimate child was this?“I am the reincarnation of Qin Haoran, Qin Tian!”
“Oh?” Lu Yang looked at Qin Tian, first showing a bit of surprise, then a knowing smile as he quickly figured out the situation.
Excluding the possibility that Qin Haoran’s soul had split into three, it was certain that Li Haoran was the reincarnation of Qin Haoran. This so-called Qin Tian was likely a fake, pushed forward by some interested party.
Perhaps it was to inherit Qin Haoran’s legacy, or maybe it was a ploy by the Nine Nether Sect’s upper echelons to secure the position of Sect Leader and prove their legitimacy.
Whatever the reason, it was inconsequential and did not affect the larger picture.
“You’re talking nonsense!” Qin Yanyan, hearing Qin Tian’s claim, bristled like a cat, clutching eight thunder talismans between her fingers and shooting them at Qin Tian like arrows aiming to pierce the sun!
Although Qin Haoran was an unreliable father, she wouldn’t tolerate anyone impersonating his reincarnation in front of her!
The talismans flashed, and thunder roared, white lightning bursting forth like dancing dragons, crashing towards Qin Tian.
Qin Tian hadn’t expected Qin Yanyan to attack in such a fury. He quickly responded, summoning an array beneath his feet that sent beams of light to intercept the lightning. The lightning and beams clashed continuously.
Qin Haoran was most skilled in formations, and coincidentally, so was Qin Tian.
The white lightning turned into a slurry, exploding with a deafening roar, nearly knocking Qin Tian off balance.
Seizing the opportunity, Qin Yanyan enhanced her talismans, sticking them on herself, boosting her strength and speed to the limit. She moved like a ghost, her right foot sweeping horizontally.
Qin Tian quickly formed a seal with his hands, changing the array underfoot to erect a barrier in front of him.
“Ha!”
Crack!
Qin Yanyan shouted, adding three more degrees of force to her kick, shattering the barrier with a single blow.
In the brief moment the array failed, Qin Yanyan bit her finger and drew a symbol in mid-air. A blood-red rune appeared between them, turning into a crimson streak aiming for Qin Tian’s neck. Qin Tian couldn’t set up another array in time, blocking with his hand and screaming as blood flowed from his palm.
Qin Yanyan stepped forward, closing the distance, engaging Qin Tian in close combat.
Last night, Li Haoran had nothing to do, so he refined Qin Yanyan’s clothes from head to toe. Though her clothes appeared light and airy, they had become a suit of armor, difficult for anyone at the Foundation Building stage to penetrate.
Li Haoran had even suggested Qin Yanyan shave her head and refine her hair into a wig for battle effectiveness, but she had firmly refused.
Seeing the situation turn dire, Master Mi was about to intervene but was stopped by Lu Yang, who swiftly grabbed his wrist.
“Master Mi, do you have so little faith in the reincarnation of Sect Leader Qin?”
Qin Tian and Qin Yanyan exchanged rapid blows. Although Qin Tian’s formations were somewhat intricate, he was not adept at close combat. Under Qin Yanyan’s fierce assault, he began to fall behind.
Qin Yanyan excelled in talismans and, like her mother, preferred close combat.
Qin Tian coughed up blood repeatedly, retreating continuously. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, his internal organs twisted. This was the hidden force Qin Yanyan had struck into his body during the fight. Qin Tian pressed his hand against a tree, which exploded, dissipating the strange hidden force.
“Who are you?” Qin Tian demanded, having suffered a significant loss in their brief exchange. He hadn’t expected such a large disparity in combat ability despite both being at the late Foundation Building stage.
“Qin Yanyan,” she coldly replied, giving her name without further words.
Seeing that Qin Yanyan wanted to continue fighting, Lu Yang transmitted a message to her, informing her that there was a Spirit Transformation stage expert hidden at the scene who might intervene if she kept attacking Qin Tian.
Qin Yanyan reluctantly stopped and angrily retreated, with Li Haoran kindly consoling his former daughter, telling her not to be so upset.
Meng Jingzhou also transmitted a message to Qin Yanyan: “Niece, why did you give your real name? Didn’t we agree to use fake names?”
Last night, while discussing their strategy, Lu Yang suggested that they shouldn’t use their real names or faces when dealing with the demonic sects to avoid future troubles. Hence, the four standing in front of Master Mi today were all disguised.
“I was too angry and forgot,” Qin Yanyan said, a bit embarrassed. Her lack of experience in the martial world made her easily driven by emotions.
Lu Yang smiled at Qin Tian, “You claim to be the reincarnation of Sect Leader Qin. What proof do you have?”
Still shaken by his fight with Qin Yanyan, Qin Tian had lost his previous arrogance but still stubbornly said, “I comprehended the Dao of Reincarnation and recalled clues about the treasure hidden in Ancient Locust Town.”
“Let me guess. You remembered that the treasure hidden by Sect Leader Qin is related to locust trees?”
Master Mi, Qin Tian, and the Spirit Transformation stage expert behind Qin Tian were all shocked.
How did he know that?
Could it be that he really was from the Heavenly Court Sect and had found the reincarnation of Sect Leader Qin?
Lu Yang’s mysterious smile left the three uncertain and uneasy.
In truth, it was easy to guess. If the Nine Nether Sect had truly known where the treasure was, they would have retrieved it long ago. The only explanation was that the Nine Nether Sect had a clue, but it was quite vague.
What could the clue be, if not related to locust trees?
Even if Lu Yang’s guess was wrong about the clue the Nine Nether Sect had, the clue he mentioned was indeed a real one.
Seeing Qin Tian’s reaction, Lu Yang knew he had guessed correctly.
Master Mi, being a seasoned veteran, didn’t let his expression betray him. Qin Tian, inexperienced in worldly affairs, easily revealed the truth when bluffed.
Master Mi tried to remain calm. “That proves nothing. Locust trees are what Ancient Locust Town is famous for. If the clue wasn’t related to locust trees, would it be related to female ghosts? Anyone could think of such a clue with a bit of thought!”
“It seems that’s all the clues you have,” Lu Yang said, shaking his head in disappointment. “I didn’t expect the Nine Nether Sect, once equal to the Heavenly Court, to have declined so much.”
“I told you, our Heavenly Court Sect found the reincarnation of Sect Leader Qin long ago and learned the treasure’s location from him.”
“What!!”