All eyes turned sharply toward the grand entrance.
It was Qin Ze, leading two people as they swiftly entered the Qin Family estate and made their way toward the courtyard.
Instantly, the crowd began to buzz with discussion.
"So that's the good-for-nothing Qin Ze, stripped of his position as Young Patriarch."
"I actually thought he had some backbone when he fled the Qin Family earlier."
"I never expected him to come crawling back."
"Is this idiot dragged back here, or did he stupidly stumble back of his own accord?"
"What an absolute fool, letting himself be used as a stepping stone."
"Trash is trash. Once he's outlived his usefulness, the Qin Family will probably find some casual excuse to kill him."
A flash of murderous intent crossed Qin Wuyang's eyes as he said coldly, "Qin Ze, hurry up and get to the courtyard. The Qin Family assembly is about to begin."
He desperately forced down the fury rising in his chest. No matter what, he had to make Qin Hao's succession as patriarch completely legitimate.
Qin Ze told Xu Shan and Lei Ling'er to wait to one side while he walked toward the courtyard. He looked straight at Qin Wuyang, his gaze unwavering.
"You really something else, Great Elder, sending so many people to hunt me down. Didn't I say I would definitely attend the family assembly? Were you afraid I'd go back on my word?"
Qin Ze spoke as he walked, casting a glance at Ye Pianyu as he passed her.
Standing behind Ye Pianyu was a young man. His appearance wasn't entirely clear, but his cultivation was formidable—he certainly didn't look like anyone from Yuelong City.
"Stop right there!" Ye Pianyu snapped coldly just as Qin Ze was about to walk past.
She stepped forward and said to Qin Ze, "Qin Ze, I have already unraveled the secrets of the Tianhun Disk. In these past ten days, my cultivation has advanced by four levels, reaching the Third Level of Heaven Spirit Realm."
As she spoke, her eyes were filled with utter contempt. She wanted Qin Ze to regret it. She wanted him to regret initiating the annulment of their engagement ten days ago, and even daring to utter those words about cutting ties completely.
Qin Ze turned to look at Ye Pianyu. All the memories of his past life surged forward, stirring up a fresh wave of hatred in his heart.
"The Third Level of Heaven Spirit Realm—is that supposed to be strong?" Qin Ze asked with a cold chuckle.
Ye Pianyu sneered in return. "It may not be the strongest, but it is a hundred times better than you."
"Is that so?" Qin Ze smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Ye Pianyu called out coldly at his retreating back, "Qin Ze, you are destined to be good-for-nothing all your life, whereas I, Ye Pianyu, am now embarking on the path of the strong."
Ignoring her entirely, Qin Ze walked straight ahead.
Ye Pianyu's lips curved upward in triumph, assuming that Qin Ze had turned coward. She had finally vented her pent-up frustration and exacted revenge for the humiliation of ten days ago.
Qin Ze reached the center of the courtyard, where the members of the Qin Family were gathered.
Lowering his voice, Qin Wuyang warned, "Qin Ze, you had better behave yourself later, or you're a dead man."
"I'll naturally be on my best behavior," Qin Ze replied with a grin.
Qin Wuyang felt deeply unsettled. Qin Ze's behavior was far too bizarre, and there was no telling what he was up to. But with the family assembly about to commence, he had no choice but to take it one step at a time.
"Boom..."
All around the courtyard, giant bonfires roared to life, shooting flames into the sky.
The Qin Family assembly officially began.
First, Qin Wuyang gave a lengthy presentation on the newest weapons and defensive armor produced by the Qin Family. After droning on endlessly, he finally finished, paving the way for his son, Qin Hao, to receive the Qin Family Seal.
At Qin Wuyang's command, a martial artist hurriedly carried the Qin Family Seal into the center of the courtyard.
Once again, all eyes locked onto Qin Ze. As the former Young Patriarch of the direct bloodline, his handing over of the seal would officially complete the transfer of power.
"Qin Ze, hand the seal to Qin Hao."
At Qin Wuyang's command, the seal was brought before Qin Ze.
Qin Ze picked up the seal and walked slowly toward Qin Hao.
Qin Hao wore a smug expression, his lips moving silently as he mouthed the word: "Trash."
Instead of handing over the seal as he approached, Qin Ze suddenly shoved it straight into his own tunic.
Startled, Qin Hao barked, "Qin Ze, what do you think you're doing?"
Qin Ze replied calmly, "If you want to become the head of the Qin Family, let's see if you actually have what it takes."
"Defeat me, and this seal is yours to take."
Overjoyed, Qin Hao could hardly believe his luck. He had been racking his brains for an excuse to do away with this brat, and now the fool was walking right into a trap.
He shouted aloud so everyone could hear, "You asked for this, so don't blame me if my blows are too heavy."
"In a martial duel, fists and feet have no eyes. If I, Qin Hao, die at Qin Ze's hands, I will hold no one to blame."
"Qin Ze, I assume you feel the same way?"
Qin Hao rushed out all his scripted words in a frantic hurry, desperate to use the pretext of a formal duel to kill Qin Ze in front of everyone.
With an air of total indifference, Qin Ze replied, "Naturally. Great Elder, you have no objections, right?" He looked at Qin Wuyang, seeking his confirmation.
Qin Wuyang frowned slightly and gave a fractional nod. He had a nagging sense that something was wrong—could Qin Ze actually have recovered his cultivation? But on second thought, that was impossible; only ten days ago, he was nothing more than a cripple.
"Very well, I have no objections," Qin Wuyang said.
"Boom..."
The moment the words left his mouth, Qin Hao unleashed his martial energy, pressing down on Qin Ze with the full aura of the Ninth Level of Earth Spirit Realm.
"Ferocious Tiger Claws!" With a furious roar, Qin Hao lunged straight at Qin Ze.
The power of this technique wasn't even as strong as Qin Taizhi's. Qin Hao's martial talent was truly pathetic to the core.
"Go down!"
Stepping hard with his right foot, Qin Ze lunged forward, unleashing a right fist that struck out like a falling shooting star.
"Crack..."
"Bang..."
The fist shattered Qin Hao's hand on impact and then slammed mercilessly into his chest.
Qin Hao was sent flying five paces backward, crashing heavily onto the ground. His chest was caved in, and a torrent of blood gushed from his nose and mouth.
The crowd stood frozen in shock, every eye fixed on Qin Hao's dying face. They simply could not believe what they were seeing.
That good-for-nothing Qin Ze had actually sent Qin Hao flying with a single punch.
"Hao'er!"
Letting out a cry of anguish, Qin Wuyang rushed toward his son. "Quick, get a spirit pill!" he yelled, lifting Qin Hao up and wiping the endless stream of blood from his face.
"It's useless. Don't waste family resources," Qin Ze said casually as he stood to one side.
Beside himself with rage, Qin Wuyang roared at Qin Ze, "Qin Ze, how dare you deal a fatal blow!"
Qin Ze spread his hands. "He said it himself just now—it doesn't matter if he dies at my hands. What, are you trying to go back on your word?"
"Puff..."
At that moment, Qin Hao spat out one final mouthful of blood and died in his father's arms, resentment etched across his face.
Rage tore at Qin Wuyang's heart as he looked up and let out a heaven-shaking roar.
"Ah..."
Springing to his feet, he glared at Qin Ze with eyes burning with fury.
"You little bastard, die!"
Clenching his fists, a terrifying aura surged from his body. This was the cultivation of the Ninth Level of Heaven Spirit Realm; the previous men couldn't even begin to compare to him.
Qin Ze said calmly, "Great Elder, the duel between your son and me was fair game with life and death left to fate. What? Only your son is allowed to kill me, but I'm not allowed to kill your son? Just how big are your airs, Qin Wuyang—are you trying to act higher than the Domain Lord?"
Qin Wuyang was completely incited to fury. Originally, with several major families present, he hadn't wanted to make a direct move, planning instead to eliminate Qin Ze quietly later. But he could wait no longer. He was going to kill Qin Ze right now to avenge Qin Hao.
"Men, kill him!" Qin Wuyang roared furiously.
Several figures among the Qin Family crowd stirred, three men stepping forward with their eyes locked entirely on Qin Ze.
Lifting the family seal high, Qin Ze shouted, "The family seal is right here! Whoever dares lay a hand on me is a traitor to the Qin Family—kill them!"
The members of the Qin Family hesitated, taken aback. They had never imagined that Qin Ze would display such fierce dominance during the family assembly.
Had this happened previously, they would have supported Qin Wuyang unconditionally. But now, Qin Ze's cultivation was clearly no lower than Qin Hao's, and he had just executed Qin Hao in a single move. Qin Ze's strength completely crushed Qin Hao's.
Since the direct bloodline of the Qin Family was fully capable of managing the family, why on earth should they let a collateral branch seize the position of patriarch?