Since Qin Nan reached the fourth stage of body tempering, he had become highly confident in his ability to conceal himself. The refinement of his internal organs allowed him to control his aura so effectively that it became nearly impossible for others to detect him.
At the very least, someone at the third stage of body tempering would find it nearly impossible to detect Qin Nan.
Seeing that he had been discovered, Qin Nan felt a slight headache but chose neither to remain silent nor to flee. Instead, he stepped out with composure and asked, “How did you find me?”
The middle-aged man looked somewhat surprised. Typically, those who were discovered while tracking would appear flustered or reveal their murderous intent. However, the calm demeanor of this young man was unusual and left him momentarily perplexed.
Then, the middle-aged man recovered and instinctively displayed a hint of arrogance. “The soul I awakened is called Mist Grass. Although its level is not high, it can detect everything within a ten-meter radius. Your concealment technique is quite sophisticated; had you not entered my search area, I would never have found you.”
Qin Nan’s heart sank. This time, he had underestimated the situation.
There were myriad types of soul abilities, each with unique capabilities despite having clear levels of classification. For example, while Qin Yu and Qin Xiao awakened souls related to archery and swordsmanship—both combat-oriented—the soul awakened by the middle-aged man was suited for detection.
“It seems I must be more cautious in the future. One should never be complacent just because of their cultivation level,” Qin Nan thought, realizing this encounter was a lesson for him.
At that moment, Fang Xue’s angry voice rang out, “Who? Who is following me?”
Fang Xue, flanked by two other middle-aged men, swiftly approached. When she saw Qin Nan’s figure, her beautifully delicate face was momentarily frozen in shock. She could not comprehend that the person following her was actually Qin Nan.
The three middle-aged men quickly surrounded Qin Nan, their murderous intent palpable. Should Qin Nan show any signs of resistance, they were prepared to launch a swift and ruthless attack.
“Qin Nan, why is it you, this waste?” Fang Xue exclaimed incredulously. “Shouldn’t someone like you be diligently training in your family? Why are you following me?”
The expressions of the three middle-aged men also showed surprise. They had not expected the young man trailing them to be the infamous Qin Nan—the former top genius who was now regarded as the foremost failure.
At almost the same moment, the three middle-aged men’s wariness lessened. They instinctively felt that a mere soul of the yellow level and someone who had only been cultivating for half a month posed no real threat to them.
Qin Nan’s expression grew colder. While he had had no issues with Fang Xue before, her calling him a “waste” immediately sparked his displeasure.
“What does it matter to you whether I am training within my family?” Qin Nan replied indifferently. “Furthermore, I have no interest in following you. I was merely passing by. Now that you’ve discovered me, I’ll leave.”
Having said that, Qin Nan turned and began to walk away, disinterested in further conflict.
“What did you say? Stop right there! If you don’t kneel and apologize, you are not allowed to leave!” Fang Xue’s voice was sharp and piercing.
Fang Xue’s mood had been terrible since she arrived. She had purchased an ancient map at a high price in Linshui City and brought her guards to search for the treasures indicated on it.
She had hoped that by quietly obtaining the treasure and bringing it back to her family, her father would view her with newfound respect.
However, after searching for two full hours with no results except a dilapidated cave, Fang Xue was forced to acknowledge that the ancient map was likely a scam.
As the young lady of the Fang family, with her esteemed status, she could not tolerate being deceived. Her irritation was compounded by Qin Nan’s indifference upon encountering her. The thought of a “waste” daring to speak to her in such a manner was infuriating.
“Kneel and apologize?” Qin Nan felt a surge of absurdity and could not help but respond, “Are you out of your mind? Why should I kneel and apologize to you? It seems you must have a penchant for having others kneel before you. If that’s the case, why don’t you kneel and apologize to me?”
Qin Nan had thought that Qin Yu and Qin Xiao were shameless, but he found Fang Xue’s demand even more outrageous. Her arrogance and domineering behavior were beyond belief.
“What? You dare insult me?” Fang Xue’s face darkened with fury. “If it weren’t for the fact that you’re the Qin family’s young master, you wouldn’t even be worthy of apologizing to me! You three, listen up—cripple his limbs and shatter his dantian!”
Qin Nan’s expression grew colder. He had never expected Fang Xue to be so brazen as to demand such severe punishment immediately. How ruthless could she be?
The three middle-aged men wasted no time and approached with pitiful expressions. They struck out at Qin Nan simultaneously. They were accustomed to such orders from Fang Xue and had broken many martial artists’ limbs and dantian under her command.
Fang Xue looked on with derision, believing the “waste” with a yellow-grade soul dared to speak to her disrespectfully. Her anticipation of seeing Qin Nan lying on the ground in agony was palpable.
“Very well. I have no grievances with you, yet you immediately demand that I be crippled. I will see how you intend to do that!” Qin Nan, laughing in anger, stepped forward with unhesitating resolve. The pressure of the fourth stage of body tempering erupted fully, unabated.
In an instant, Fang Xue’s mocking smile froze. She felt an overwhelming pressure that nearly suffocated her. The disdain and derision she had felt vanished, replaced by a growing terror.
The three middle-aged men also stood frozen, their faces filled with shock.
How could this famed waste from Linshui City, with a yellow-grade soul, unleash such a formidable aura of the fourth stage of body tempering? It was inconceivable.
“Kill him! Kill him!” Fang Xue screamed madly.
Unable to accept Qin Nan’s sudden display of overwhelming power, her mind was consumed by the desire for his death. Qin Nan had to die, no matter what!
The three middle-aged men quickly reacted, their expressions turning grave. Behind them, yellow light flared as their souls ascended.
All three possessed yellow-grade souls.
In the next moment, the three men charged simultaneously, their auras and souls intertwining, giving the impression of a unified force.
“Kill!”
They attacked in unison, each strike mirroring the others, gradually coalescing into an incredibly powerful martial technique, sealing Qin Nan’s movements and leaving him no place to escape.
“No wonder these three, with their yellow-grade souls and third-stage body tempering, can serve as Fang Xue’s guards. They possess such skill… but it won’t stop my blade!”
Qin Nan’s eyes flashed with a chilling light. Fearlessly, he wielded his black iron blade, which erupted with thunderous energy, cutting through the air with cold brilliance.
“Ah――” The three screams of agony were abruptly cut off, as though someone had throttled their throats, leaving no further sound.
Under the power of Qin Nan’s strike, the three middle-aged men were obliterated, their blood scattering around.
Fang Xue’s eyes widened in terror. Her once-beautiful face was now overtaken by profound fear. The blood-soaked scene before her felt like a giant claw seizing her entire being, rendering her breathless.
Her guards had been defeated? Even against the fourth stage of body tempering, her guards were capable of fighting. Yet now, they couldn’t even withstand a single blow from Qin Nan?
How terrifying was this so-called “waste” Qin Nan’s strength?
“Miss Fang, why are you silent now?” Qin Nan’s mocking voice echoed in Fang Xue’s ears. “Weren’t you so eager to have me crippled and my dantian shattered? I’m sorry, but your guards have been inadvertently killed by me, so they cannot carry out your orders. Now, are you planning to take matters into your own hands?”
Fang Xue was struck as if by lightning, her body shaking and her face turning pale.
