"He... he stepped on him again?"
"My goodness! That's Qin Tianlong! Once the undisputed number one among the younger generation! Now he's being trampled underfoot, for the second time!"
"Who could have ever imagined this? Everyone always said Qin Wudao was trash, a disgrace... and now... what in the world is going on here?"
"So ruthless... but... it feels so satisfying!"
Hearing the whispered murmurs of the crowd, First Elder Qin Yuan clenched his fists tightly inside his sleeves, his knuckles turning white. Yet, he forced himself to maintain an outward calm, refusing to lose his composure.
When had his own son ever suffered such humiliation?
This was simply going too far!
On the other side, Qin Zhan laughed heartily.
"That's my boy! To repay kindness with kindness and grievances with grievances—that is how a true man should act!"
He was extremely pleased with Qin Wudao's fierce and overbearing style of doing things.
Not far away, Qin Yao felt the exact same way.
Watching Qin Wudao's utterly arrogant actions, she felt no revulsion whatsoever; instead, she was thoroughly gratified.
With her naturally fiery temperament and straightforward ways, Qin Wudao's present dominance was infinitely more pleasing to the eye than Qin Tianlong's past hypocrisy.
As for Qin Tianlong, pinned beneathfoot, a tangled vortex of humiliation, anger, and terror was currently threatening to completely shatter his sanity.
He wished he could simply pass out on the spot to escape this torment far worse than death.
Just then, the figure of the Mystic Ancestor quietly materialized once more.
As he watched Qin Wudao standing with his foot on Qin Tianlong, a flash of the faintest, almost imperceptible displeasure seemed to ripple across the depths of his otherwise placid eyes.
It vanished almost instantly, leaving no trace on the surface.
First, he turned to Elder Shu, the guardian of the Armory, and bowed slightly in a gesture of utmost respect.
"Greetings, Elder Shu."
Elder Shu gave a casual nod in acknowledgment.
"Elder Shu, if you look at it... Qin Wudao has awakened the Hongmeng Emperor Bone and possesses limitless potential. Although Qin Tianlong has erred, the Primordial True Dragon Bone within his body is also part of our Qin Family's bloodline heritage. If we can preserve it, his future prospects will likewise be boundless. Perhaps this is the opportunity for our Qin Family to truly produce two supreme prodigies and revive the glory of our ancestors... If we let him perish here and now, we will all become sinners against the family!"
With these words, he placed himself firmly on the moral high ground.
He was telling Elder Shu that everything he did was for the sake of the family's future. At the same time, he hoped Elder Shu would pursue the matter no further, while subtly reminding Qin Wudao not to push things too far.
However, Elder Shu was a being who had lived through multiple epochs—a genuine veteran antiquity.
He had seen countless unrivaled geniuses touted by the masses, and he was thoroughly accustomed to the sinister depths of human hearts.
He was hardly going to be fooled by the Mystic Ancestor's glib remarks, and interrupted him flatly.
"You are a fool!"
"This Qin Tianlong stole another's bone for his own use, showed no remorse, and felt no gratitude. His temperament has long been warped by greed and malice, and he now runs counter to our clan's destiny!"
"Keeping him alive is nothing more than nursing a tiger that will eventually turn on you, digging your own grave!"
"As for producing two supreme prodigies, that is utter nonsense!"
"In this turbulent era, a single person who can defy the ages single-handedly is enough to lead the family to restoration. Why would we need to hedge our bets on multiple fronts?"
"In my view, we should rip that residual bone right out of his body on the spot, cripple him utterly, and make an example of him! What great achievements could someone who steals another's innate talent and foundation ever hope to attain in the future? He is nothing more than a parasite gnawing at the family!"
As soon as these words fell, the entire area was struck dumb with shock once more!
Elder Shu's tone was severe, devoid of the slightest partiality, and stood entirely on Qin Wudao's side.
He had not only dismissed Qin Tianlong, but the Mystic Ancestor as well.
He had rejected the very notion of the so-called dual supreme prodigies!
Hearing this, everyone present held their breath in absolute silence, too terrified to utter a single word.
Qin Yuan's expression remained calm, yet an indescribable panic swelled in his heart. Elder Shu's words carried far more weight than those of the Mystic Ancestor.
If Elder Shu insisted on crippling Qin Tianlong, even the Mystic Ancestor might not be able to stop him.
By then... his son, Qin Tianlong... would truly become a cripple, reduced to absolute, irredeemable ruin!
Qin Tianlong, still pinned beneath Qin Wudao's foot, trembled violently all over, his eyes filled with helplessness and despair.
His gaze locked desperately onto the Mystic Ancestor, hoping that this elder who ostensibly cared for the family's future would... intercede for him!
At the same time... his hatred for Qin Wudao burned even more intensely.
If he somehow managed to survive this ordeal, he would use the most cruel and agonizing methods to torture Qin Wudao. He would mobilize every last connection he had, leaving his enemy not even a moment to catch his breath.
As for Qin Wudao, upon hearing Elder Shu's words, a wave of elation washed over him. Finally... someone sensible had spoken up!
And what was more, someone with terrifying strength.
From now on, he too was someone under the protection of a supreme heavyweight; he would no longer be as passive as before.
As for the Mystic Ancestor, still refusing to give up, he spoke once again.
"Elder Shu, it is no easy task for the family to cultivate talent. Tianlong, he..."
"Say no more."
Elder Shu waved a hand, dismissing the Mystic Ancestor entirely, and instead turned his gaze to Qin Wudao. "Little fellow, what is your view on this?"
A subtle ripple flashed through the Mystic Ancestor's eyes.
It seemed Elder Shu held Qin Wudao in far higher regard than he had anticipated.
For a moment, all eyes converged on Qin Wudao once again.
Feeling the violent trembling of Qin Tianlong's body beneath his foot, along with that gaze filled with terror and venom, Qin Wudao slowly lifted his foot.
Just when everyone expected him to follow Elder Shu's suggestion and completely cripple Qin Tianlong, he spoke calmly instead.
"I appreciate Elder Shu's kindness."
"However, crippling him is unnecessary for now."
He glanced at the Mystic Ancestor, then scanned the gathered crowd. "I, Qin Wudao, am a reasonable man. Since a three-month pact was set, naturally I will not break the rules here and now."
His gaze dropped onto Qin Tianlong's blood-stained, humiliated face. "Three months from now, at the Dragon Gate Ceremony."
"I will defeat him."
"I will defeat him fair and square!"
These words carried far more devastating impact than simply crippling Qin Tianlong on the spot.
It was a display of absolute self-confidence and dominance!
Hearing this, Elder Shu a trace of a smile surfaced on his face. "Good, you have ambition!"
With that, Elder Shu flicked his sleeve casually, sending a token radiating a rich aura of vitality flying toward Qin Wudao. "This is the Longevity Token. With it, you may enter the Longevity Pool in the core region of our ancestral grounds to cultivate once. That is the true foundation of our Qin Family—make the most of it."
Having bestowed the token, Elder Shu lingered no longer, his figure vanishing into thin air.
The Mystic Ancestor looked at Qin Wudao and spoke, "Remember, put the overall interests of the family first in all things, and do not act purely on impulse. The future of the family requires your generation to coexist harmoniously and support one another."
Qin Wudao gave a noncommittal response.
Seeing this, the Mystic Ancestor said nothing more, and his figure dissolved as well.
With the departure of the two supreme ancestors, the oppressive atmosphere across the plaza eased slightly.
Qin Yuan cast a deep, silent look at Qin Wudao, turned on his heel without a word, and hastily carried Qin Tianlong away in disarray.
"How the tides turn... To think how glorious Qin Tianlong once was, and how desolate Qin Wudao..."
"Who could have guessed that in less than ten days, their positions would be completely inverted..."
"Still, Qin Wudao is truly wild. Being at the Divine Sea Realm and daring to claim he'll defeat someone in the King Realm within three months..."
"Just wait and see, in three months, there'll be quite a show to watch..."
Across the plaza, people murmured among themselves with endless emotion. Qin Wudao paid no attention to the discussions.
His gaze swept over the top-tier cultivation techniques surrounding him.
Being greedy for too many, he simply picked out a few incomplete manuals of supreme tier that best suited him, stowing them away to study at his leisure.
Just as he turned to leave, a crisp, melodious voice sounded from behind him.
"Senior Brother Qin Wudao, please stay."
Qin Wudao turned around to see Qin Yao hurrying up to him, a hint of solemnity etched across her pretty face.
"Something the matter?" Qin Wudao asked.