As for Qin Xiao, Qin Nan was not only familiar with him but knew him very well.
In the past, when Qin Nan was the top prodigy of the Qin family, Qin Xiao had been obsequious towards him at every turn. At that time, Qin Nan had regarded Qin Xiao quite favorably, even referring to him as a brother.
However, Qin Nan never expected that today, Qin Xiao would come barging in and threatening him.
In that instant, Qin Nan understood that his status as a ‘waste’ had completely severed their relationship, and Qin Xiao’s intentions were far from benign.
Qin Xiao raised his chin with an air of arrogance. “The reason I’m here today is quite simple. I want your body-tempering pills. Don’t try to deceive me; I know you have ten of them.”
He paused for a moment, then revealed a look of deep disdain. “Qin Nan, don’t blame me for being unfeeling. You’re a waste now. The body-tempering pills are of no use to you; they’d be better off with me.”
Qin Nan was so enraged that he laughed. “And what if I refuse?”
At these words, Qin Xiao’s arrogance faded, replaced by a cold menace. “Qin Nan, if you refuse to comply, don’t blame me for being impolite. Even though I don’t have cultivation right now, my martial soul is at the Yellow Rank Third Grade!”
The sword behind him suddenly whirled, its light flashing with a chilling aura.
“Qin Xiao, it seems you want to fall out with me.” Qin Nan’s expression remained calm as he observed the flying sword without a trace of fear, only responding, “I’ve already consumed the body-tempering pills. Leave.”
With that, Qin Nan closed his eyes and sighed inwardly.
Qin Nan was indeed angered by Qin Xiao’s arrogance. In the past, he would have fought back immediately, but considering their past relationship, he refrained from doing so.
Qin Xiao’s face changed, and a murderous intent surged. “Qin Nan, you’re seeking death! Today, I’ll show you the difference between a Yellow Rank Third Grade martial soul and a Yellow Rank First Grade martial soul!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sword behind him emitted a buzzing sound and transformed into a streak of cold light, cutting fiercely towards Qin Nan.
Originally, Qin Xiao hadn’t intended to attack Qin Nan. This was not out of old affection, but rather due to Qin Nan’s status as the son of the Qin family’s head, which had made Qin Xiao somewhat cautious.
However, Qin Xiao was stunned to find Qin Nan, now a waste, daring to put on airs. It was sheer recklessness.
“Qin Nan, you brought this upon yourself!” Qin Xiao sneered, envisioning the once-proud prodigy Qin Nan in agony and begging for mercy.
“Seeking death!”
Qin Nan could no longer endure and his anger erupted like thunder.
He strode forward with determination, his fists hammering down on the sword with explosive force, unleashing the full power of his First Grade body-tempering cultivation.
Low-level martial art, Crushing Fist!
In that moment, Qin Xiao’s mocking grin vanished, replaced by shock and confusion. He couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
Qin Nan’s cultivation had reached the First Grade of body-tempering?
Before he could process this, a thunderous crash echoed as the sword was sent flying by Qin Nan’s punch, its light dimming as it vibrated.
“Ah…”
A piercing scream erupted from Qin Xiao as the blow to his martial soul inflicted harm on his body.
Qin Nan watched coldly, “Now tell me, who’s the waste?”
“You… you… you…” Qin Xiao clutched his chest, his face pale, looking at Qin Nan with fear and horror replacing his previous arrogance. “How could you break through to the First Grade of body-tempering? I have a Yellow Rank Third Grade martial soul and haven’t advanced yet. How did you manage it?”
Qin Xiao could not accept this reality.
Despite awakening a Yellow Rank Third Grade martial soul and undergoing rigorous training with a body-tempering pill, he had not advanced. How could Qin Nan have surpassed him?
“I told you, I’ve consumed all the body-tempering pills.” Qin Nan gave him a cold glance. “Get out!”
The command was like a decree, causing Qin Xiao to ignore his pain and flee the courtyard, crawling away without daring to look back.
He had thought that his Yellow Rank Third Grade martial soul would allow him to dominate Qin Nan, but he never anticipated Qin Nan’s unexpected breakthrough.
If he stayed any longer, Qin Xiao feared to imagine what Qin Nan might do next.
With Qin Xiao gone, the courtyard fell silent. Qin Nan stood there for a moment, sighed inwardly, and then quickly regained his composure.
For Qin Nan, if others respected him, he would reciprocate tenfold. As for scoundrels like Qin Xiao, who were ungrateful and abusive, Qin Nan felt only regret, devoid of any remaining brotherly affection.
Should he encounter Qin Xiao again, if this scoundrel showed no repentance, Qin Nan would show no mercy.
“It seems training is out of the question today.” Qin Nan looked at the ruined courtyard and shook his head with a wry smile. He didn’t want others to witness him releasing his martial soul.
The secret of his martial soul was not something Qin Nan wished to expose just yet.
“Since I can’t train, I’ll head to the Martial Arts Pavilion. This time, I can access the second floor.”
A glint of excitement flashed in Qin Nan’s eyes.
From a young age, he had been exceptionally interested in martial arts. By thirteen, he had mastered ten martial techniques and at sixteen, created his own sword technique.
The Crushing Fist he had just used was one of those techniques he mastered at thirteen.
Previously, without awakening his martial soul, Qin Nan could only study low-level techniques on the first floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion. Now that he had awakened his martial soul and reached the First Grade of body-tempering, he was eligible to explore the second floor.
With this thought in mind, Qin Nan hurriedly made his way to the Martial Arts Pavilion.
The Martial Arts Pavilion in the Qin family was a place akin to a forbidden zone, where noise and combat were strictly prohibited. Violators would lose their qualification and be banned for life.
The Martial Arts Pavilion had four floors: the first floor held low-level techniques, the second floor held intermediate techniques, and the third floor held advanced techniques.
It was rumored that the fourth floor contained a supreme technique, a treasure of the Qin family. Even Qin Changkong, the family’s top prodigy, did not have access.
However, whether this rumor was true was unknown.
When Qin Nan arrived at the Martial Arts Pavilion, he found it eerily empty, a stark contrast to its usual bustling atmosphere.
But this was expected. Only those who had reached the First Grade of body-tempering could access the second floor.
It was rare for Qin family disciples, who had just awakened their martial souls, to reach the First Grade within such a short time.
When Qin Nan arrived, the white-haired elder who sat at the pavilion was momentarily stunned. “Qin Nan, what brings you here?”
Qin Nan knew this elder well and had a good relationship with him. He immediately cupped his hands and said, “Elder Ying, I’m here to access the second floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion.”
“The second floor?” Elder Ying was taken aback, then his expression turned cold. “Qin Nan, don’t think that our good relationship will grant you access to the second floor. To enter the second floor, you must have reached the First Grade of body-tempering!”
He then recalled the news of Qin Nan’s fall from grace and began to dissuade him earnestly. “Qin Nan, though your martial soul is Yellow Rank First Grade, don’t be discouraged. Just work hard…”
Qin Nan found this both amusing and exasperating. He stepped forward, placing his hand on the wooden table, which immediately bore the imprint of his five fingers.
“You…” Elder Ying was again stunned. “You’ve broken through to the First Grade of body-tempering?”
Qin Nan did not respond, merely smiled and walked into the Martial Arts Pavilion, leaving Elder Ying astonished and speechless.
As Qin Nan entered the second floor of the pavilion, his eyes lit up.
The second floor was supported by eight large redwood pillars, with white jade tables holding numerous ancient tomes.
Qin Nan quickly approached, about to pick up a tome, when a surprised voice called out, “Qin Nan?”
He turned to see a young man in a white and gold robe standing nearby, looking at him with astonishment.
Seeing this young man, Qin Nan was slightly surprised, then said coolly, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
The young man was Qin Yu, Qin Xiao’s elder brother, who had awakened a Yellow Rank Fourth Grade martial soul and was considered a genius within the Qin family.
Qin Nan found it ironic to run into him right after dealing with his younger brother.
Qin Yu’s expression shifted to one of mockery. “I didn’t expect you, with your Yellow Rank First Grade martial soul, to have reached the First Grade of body-tempering. It seems those ten body-tempering pills the family forced upon you worked quite well.”
Qin Yu felt a pang of envy when recalling those ten pills, which were more than he had received despite his own Yellow Rank Fourth Grade martial soul and rigorous training.
Thus, Qin Yu couldn’t help but deride Qin Xiao.
Qin Nan glanced at him and replied, “Indeed, they worked quite well. I just used this newfound strength to give your brother a beating.”
At these words, Qin
Yu’s face stiffened.
