Chapter Seventy-Five: A Stinging Rebuff

Qin Feng stepped onto the stage!

He truly accepted the challenge from the Grand Elder!

Yet, after the initial excitement, everyone began to secretly worry for Qin Feng.

How could Qin Feng possibly defeat Qin Sheng? After all, he had no real strength to speak of, and as for his bloodline soul, it was nothing but a useless one! Challenging Qin Sheng was like inviting himself to be utterly crushed!

Though everyone admired Qin Feng’s courage, they had little faith in his chances.

As Qin Feng mounted the stage, even Qin Li’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. In his view, Qin Feng was not the sort to act foolishly—turning around and leaving the Qin family would have been the wisest choice. So why had he chosen to step up? Was it merely to preserve his pride?

Though puzzled, Qin Li didn’t take Qin Feng seriously.

A boy with a wasted soul and mere tenth-level Human Qi Realm strength—what waves could he possibly stir?

Nonetheless, he had to keep an eye out—if Qin Sheng accidentally killed the boy, old Qin Tianzheng would be furious, and that could be troublesome.

He shot Qin Sheng a covert glance, and the latter nodded in understanding.

Then, fixing Qin Feng with a cold and ruthless gaze, Qin Sheng readied himself.

Qin Sheng was much older than Qin Feng, around thirty, but for cultivators, a ten-year age gap was hard to discern. Even so, to reach the Human Qi Realm at Qin Sheng’s age in a small town like Luoyang already marked him as an outstanding talent.

The malice in his eyes was, of course, because of Qin Yu’er.

Recently, the two had become engaged. Qin Yu’er had often spoken ill of Qin Feng in front of Qin Sheng, weeping and complaining about how he had bullied her in the past. Over time, Qin Sheng’s impression of Qin Feng had grown exceedingly poor.

Originally, there was no enmity between them, but with Qin Yu’er between them, hostilities naturally arose.

Qin Feng was no fool—he noticed both the unfriendly glare and Qin Yu’er’s gleeful applause.

A femme fatale indeed!

Still, he was certain that misfortune would not befall himself.

Qin Feng did not step up to remain in the Qin family. Quite the contrary, he knew he must leave—the pond of Luoyang Town was far too small for a true dragon soaring in the sky. This little pool simply could not contain his ambitions.

He mounted the stage only to prove himself, to show those who looked down on him just how wrong they were.

Those who scorned kindness, who even struck back at those who extended it—how could such people not be taught a lesson? How else to do justice by those Qin family disciples who had supported him?

And for Qin Ba, who stood up for him and was humiliated for it!

Even for his grandfather, who always held high hopes for him but could only choose to withdraw in helplessness.

With measured steps, Qin Feng stood tall upon the stage.

His robust physique and imposing presence surpassed even Qin Sheng’s, exuding an aura so overwhelming that even Qin Li on the stage dared not meet his gaze directly.

The strength Qin Feng displayed made Qin Li vaguely uneasy, but he quickly laughed at himself. What was wrong with him, being intimidated by a mere boy in the Mortal Qi Realm?

This only made Qin Li angrier.

“Qin Sheng, do it! Drive him out of the Qin family!”

“Yes!”

Qin Sheng had long been eager for action. With the order given, he showed no mercy.

“Don’t worry, Grand Elder. I will make this fool pay the price for his recklessness!”

Facing Qin Feng, who stood so casually before him, Qin Sheng sneered, his fists slowly clenching as a faint stream of profound energy surged through his body, bringing a rush of overwhelming power.

After a brief pause, Qin Sheng stamped his foot and shot straight at Qin Feng, who stood only a step away. As he charged, his hands curled, the sharp nails on his ten fingers gleaming with a piercing martial light.

When he was barely half a meter away, Qin Sheng suddenly halted, his right claw tracing a cunning arc toward Qin Feng’s throat. “Earth-rank battle technique—Dragon Locking Claw!”

Qin Feng faced the incoming strike with a calm expression. Unhurriedly, he raised his right hand, and just as his throat was about to be seized, he deftly caught Qin Sheng’s wrist.

Qin Sheng was shocked and struggled desperately to break free, but Qin Feng’s grip was like iron pincers—utterly unyielding.

With a cold laugh, Qin Feng gave a sharp tug, and Qin Sheng was sent staggering back more than ten steps, barely managing to steady himself in a sorry state.

On the stage, Qin Li’s face darkened at the sight.

Offstage, everyone was dumbstruck.

Qin Yu’er’s face turned pale as well…

Qin Feng hadn’t even moved, yet he forced Qin Sheng—at the Human Qi Realm—back with pure physical strength alone, without using a single battle technique.

“What…what kind of battle technique was that?” Rubbing his reddened wrist, Qin Sheng’s expression changed dramatically. He was left speechless for a moment before shouting in a show of bravado.

Qin Feng glanced at him indifferently, then looked down at his own hand and replied lightly, “With your strength, you are not worthy of seeing my battle techniques. Unleash your strongest attack—you have but one chance left.”

“You—!”

Qin Sheng was furious—Qin Feng’s words had thoroughly provoked him.

But that last exchange made Qin Sheng realize that Qin Feng was no pushover—he was more like a steel wall, unyielding and formidable!

Qin Sheng’s face twitched. Gritting his teeth in anger, he released his heavenly-grade Chi Soul and launched his strongest attack, once more charging at Qin Feng.

A faint Chi dragon soul swirled behind him, lending him power severalfold.

“Divine Dragon Fist—Mountain Shattering Strike!”

This time, Qin Sheng’s attack was imposing indeed—his fists joined, his body twisted into an odd arc as he hurled himself at Qin Feng.

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Qin Sheng draw nearer, the corner of his mouth curving into a cold smile.

To deal with Qin Sheng, Qin Feng had more than ten ways to kill him in a single blow.

But he would not kill him, nor would he use any sinister methods against the Qin family. He would fight head-on, using the very power the Qin family prided itself on.

It was a mark of respect for the Qin family.

At the same time, it would allow those who looked down on him to admit defeat, both in heart and mouth.

Thus, Qin Feng’s right arm swelled, shredding the sleeve at the elbow. His powerful muscles bulged, brimming with explosive strength, as he met Qin Sheng’s double-fisted strike head-on.

One fist against two.

It seemed disadvantageous to Qin Feng, but the outcome left everyone stunned yet again.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, a figure spewing blood was sent flying, crashing off the stage and skidding a long distance before coming to a halt. The other combatant remained standing exactly where he was—utterly unmoved.

Utterly unmoved!

And that person was Qin Feng!

The swollen muscles of his arm slowly shrank back to normal as he withdrew his arm; only his tattered sleeve, now reduced to a short one, proved that he had even made a move.

Silence.

The scene was deathly silent.

Everyone was completely stunned by what they had just witnessed!

Qin Feng had used only one punch—pure physical strength, without unleashing his bloodline soul or using any battle technique—and had sent Qin Sheng, who had both his bloodline soul and an earth-rank battle technique, flying off the stage with a single blow. Qin Sheng even spat blood and fell unconscious!

What did this mean?

Qin Feng had won, and in absolute, overwhelming fashion!

Most crucially—

This punch not only proved that Qin Feng was not a worthless failure, but also that some old fool who had lived a lifetime had utterly misjudged him!

A complete and resounding slap in the face!

Qin Li’s face flushed red with humiliation, burning as if on fire. The mocking glances from the crowd made him wish he could find a hole to crawl into.

Qin Feng! Qin Feng! Qin Feng!

The Qin family disciples below erupted in cheers, loudly chanting Qin Feng’s name.

But Qin Feng remained serene, leapt down from the stage, and walked past Qin Ba, Qin Yu’er, and the rest. Amidst the shocked, admiring, joyful, jealous, resentful, angry, and reluctant gazes, he slowly walked out of the Qin family’s grand courtyard.

Beyond the gates…

Somewhere within the Qin residence, an elderly figure silently watched Qin Feng’s departing back and murmured, “Child, safe travels. Remember to come home early…”