At this moment, within the grand hall of the Qin family’s council.
Qin Tian sat in the principal seat, his demeanor tranquil, obscuring any hint of his thoughts.
Below him were the Elder Qin Tieba and the Second and Third Elders. At this juncture, the three elders of the Qin family wore solemn expressions, with Qin Tieba’s face darkening to a grim shade, his eyes glinting with a barely concealed malice.
Beneath the elders were over thirty Qin family stewards.
In this tense atmosphere, silence prevailed in the grand hall.
Everyone was acutely aware that the tension stemmed from a significant recent event: Qin Tian, the patriarch of the Qin family, had ceased to draw any cultivation resources from the family. Instead, he had extracted a substantial five hundred Body Refining Pills from the family, allocating them all to Qin Nan.
Five hundred Body Refining Pills equated to five months’ worth of resources for the Qin family disciples. If Qin Nan had still been the prodigious talent he once was, it might have been understandable, but now he was regarded as the family’s greatest waste!
Allocating five hundred Body Refining Pills to such a waste was nothing short of madness!
“We hold a family meeting once a month,” Qin Tian finally spoke, his face devoid of emotion. “This meeting is meant for reporting various matters concerning the Qin family and for expressing opinions. As the patriarch, I find it perplexing that no one has spoken yet. If no one has anything to say, then this meeting will be adjourned!”
The stewards below were stunned by his words. Since the Qin family had become one of the two major families in Linshui City, never before had a family meeting ended prematurely.
“I have something to say!” At that moment, a cold voice pierced the silence.
All eyes turned toward the source of the voice, and it was none other than Qin Changkong.
According to past regulations of the Qin family, disciples were not allowed to attend family meetings. However, as the current top prodigy, Qin Changkong naturally had the right to be present.
In fact, Qin Changkong’s status was exceedingly significant in this context.
Dressed in a pristine white robe with golden cuffs, Qin Changkong exuded an aura of grandeur. His cultivation level had astonishingly reached the Third Stage of Body Refining.
Given his Huang-level Fifth Grade aptitude, reaching this level in just a few days would have been impossible, but as the top prodigy, Qin Changkong had access to abundant resources that allowed him to achieve this level.
Though the Third Stage of Body Refining was not particularly remarkable within the Qin family, it had been attained in just over ten days!
What would Qin Changkong’s cultivation level be in the future?
The stewards in the grand hall simultaneously recognized this and regarded Qin Changkong with a mixture of awe, admiration, and even a hint of obsequiousness.
Noticing the gazes directed at him, Qin Changkong was immensely satisfied, his face brimming with pride. One of his purposes for attending this meeting was to showcase himself!
Qin Tian’s gaze flickered with a trace of sternness, yet his demeanor remained composed. “Speak your mind.”
Qin Changkong’s eyes met Qin Tian’s, a smirk curling at his lips. He spoke icily, “Patriarch, as the top prodigy of the Qin family, I receive only ten Body Refining Pills a month, and with the family’s support, it barely exceeds twenty pills. I would like to ask, why have you allocated five hundred Body Refining Pills to Qin Nan, a worthless individual, just because he is your son?”
The atmosphere in the hall tightened abruptly.
All the stewards instantly realized that Qin Changkong’s remarks were not benign.
Their gazes subconsciously shifted to Qin Tieba, whose expression, though neutral, now held a glint of cold light.
Qin Tian raised an eyebrow, maintaining a steady tone. “Those five hundred Body Refining Pills were allocated to support my son. Furthermore, from now on, I shall not request any cultivation resources from the Qin family. If you must assess it, the Qin family has suffered no loss!”
As soon as he finished, a loud and derisive laugh erupted.
Qin Tieba stood abruptly, his face contorted with scorn. “What do you mean, no loss for the Qin family? Qin Tian, do you understand that our family’s Body Refining Pills are limited each year? You’ve given five hundred pills to your useless son, leaving others with nothing! As the patriarch, you choose to squander resources on a waste instead of investing them in talents… I believe you have forfeited your right to lead the Qin family!”
His words struck like a thunderclap, reverberating through the grand hall.
Shock and disbelief spread across the faces of the stewards as they absorbed the fact that Qin Changkong and Qin Tieba were actively challenging Qin Tian’s position as patriarch!
……
After a brief time, Qin Nan returned to the Qin family estate, having refrained from greeting anyone along the way.
However, Qin Nan keenly noticed the looks of envy, jealousy, and even some blatant mockery from passing Qin family disciples.
Though he did not dwell on it, the realization that his father had procured those five hundred Body Refining Pills for him brought him a sense of joy.
As the Qin family’s greatest ‘waste’, having received five hundred Body Refining Pills was bound to stir feelings of envy and resentment among the disciples, which explained the mockery.
Understanding this, Qin Nan quickened his pace toward his courtyard.
Upon entering, a voice devoid of emotion greeted him: “Young Master, here are the five hundred Body Refining Pills provided by the patriarch.”
Qin Nan turned instinctively to see a middle-aged man in black standing in the courtyard.
The man’s dark complexion and icy demeanor, coupled with the palpable menace emanating from him, made him inherently intimidating.
This man was none other than Iron Three, Qin Tian’s personal bodyguard and a trusted aide, second only to Qin Tian in terms of cultivation.
“Thank you, Uncle San!” Qin Nan said respectfully, his gaze falling upon the array of jade bottles, his excitement palpable as he sensed the rich spiritual energy emanating from them.
Five hundred Body Refining Pills! How much could they enhance the Battle God’s Soul?
Iron Three, noticing Qin Nan’s reaction, felt a surge of coldness in his eyes.
Suppressing his excitement, Qin Nan looked up and asked, “Uncle San, where is my father?”
“He is attending the family meeting,” Iron Three replied emotionlessly, about to leave the estate. However, he paused abruptly.
Qin Nan sensed something was amiss. “Uncle San, what’s wrong?”
Iron Three’s gaze turned sharp and cold. “Qin Nan, I do not know what you are planning, but as a mere waste, you have managed to compel your father to procure five hundred Body Refining Pills for you. Do you realize the trouble you’ve caused your father?”
Qin Nan’s expression faltered, his keen senses picking up on something. “Uncle San, has something happened?”
Iron Three’s disdain deepened, his voice laced with contempt. “Don’t you understand? Let me tell you: the elders are planning to use this incident to impeach your father at the family meeting! If your father is no longer the patriarch of the Qin family, remember that you are to blame for it all!”
As Iron Three spoke, a hint of murderous intent emanated from him.
Despite his limited interactions with Qin Nan, Iron Three had always held a favorable view of him, often discreetly ensuring his safety.
However, learning that Qin Nan had demanded five hundred Body Refining Pills had radically changed Iron Three’s perception.
Five hundred Body Refining Pills!
For a waste like you to claim such an amount? Isn’t that directly sabotaging your own father?
Iron Three took a deep breath, suppressing his hostility, and prepared to leave. He could no longer bear to stay.
But as Iron Three was about to step out, an angry voice suddenly erupted.
“They want to impeach my father?”
A powerful aura surged with the voice, nearly exploding in intensity.
Iron Three’s face froze as he turned instinctively. Seeing the furious Qin Nan in the courtyard, radiating a formidable energy, Iron Three’s expression turned to one of profound shock.
What is this?
Has Qin Nan’s cultivation truly reached the Fourth Stage of Body Refining?
