Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Qin Chuan looked at Shui Qingrou.

He noticed that the young woman had become even more captivating. Her features were cold and noble, and her temperament was ethereal and graceful, with an air of otherworldly elegance. She seemed like a celestial being.

If it weren't for my disinterest in women, Qin Chuan thought, I might be moved to show a sign of respect.

He wanted to compliment his future daughter-in-law for her beauty but found it inappropriate. So instead, he simply said, "Hmm… not bad."

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared before the three of them—it was the old Realm Emperor woman who had once visited the Seven Martial Sect.

She gazed at Qin Zi with deep, penetrating eyes, a hint of surprise flashing across her face before she praised, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. In just two short years, you've grown to such an extent. Truly… unbelievable."

Then, she turned to Qin Chuan with a wry smile and said, "Two years ago, I sensed that you were extraordinary. I didn't expect that you'd already become an Emperor."

"Just a stroke of luck," Qin Chuan replied modestly, maintaining an air of mystery for his son while giving the old woman due respect.

The old woman smiled, not believing his words. She then addressed Shui Qingrou, "Qingrou, why don't you show Qin Zi around the sect? It's cold out; don't let him freeze."

Shui Qingrou's face turned red again as she sneaked a shy glance at her master, then she respectfully bid farewell to Qin Chuan.

"Father… I'll be off then?" Qin Zi asked, his heart eager, though he feigned reluctance, looking longingly at his father.

"Get lost!" Qin Chuan laughed and playfully kicked his son on the rear.

"Got it!" Qin Zi cheerfully complied, quickly grabbing Shui Qingrou's hand and dashing out of the valley with a light-hearted step.

In the valley, the atmosphere turned cold and quiet once again with the absence of youthful energy.

"Emperor Qin, please," the old woman gestured, inviting Qin Chuan to sit with her on a large ice-carved lotus leaf. They sat across from each other, about three meters apart.

"Emperor Qin, your visit today surely isn't just to bring Qin Zi to see Shui Qingrou, right?" the old woman asked with a smile.

"That's exactly why I came," Qin Chuan replied with a casual laugh. "Besides this, there isn't much in the Northern Region worth my personal visit."

The old woman's eyes narrowed slightly.

What an arrogant statement!

Did he mean that the entire Northern Region was beneath his notice? Where did such confidence come from? As she carefully observed him, she realized that she could no longer see through this young man in front of her.

She then joked, "Such a trivial matter hardly warrants an Emperor's personal visit. Other emperors wouldn't bother to lower themselves for such a thing."

"Can't help it," Qin Chuan shrugged with a smile. "I only have one son. And unlike the others, I have nothing else."

"With your strength, Emperor Qin is already considered the Overlord of the Eastern Region. How can you claim to have nothing?" the old woman teased.

Qin Chuan shook his head calmly and said in a melancholic tone, "These things may be precious to others, but to me… they're worthless."

The old woman's body trembled!

A storm surged within her heart, shattering the calm composure she had been trying to maintain.

She took a deep breath and asked somewhat unnaturally, "Is it because Emperor Qin has no interest in power?"

"It's not that," Qin Chuan replied with a faint smile, his expression indifferent. "It's just that… these things are all too easily obtained."

Boom!

His words struck the old woman like a thunderclap, completely breaking through her psychological defenses.

She had never experienced such a pure display of effortless superiority. She could feel the weight of his unspoken authority pressing down on her, making it impossible to maintain her composure. Both inwardly and outwardly, she involuntarily lowered herself.

With a deep breath and a sigh, she said, "Emperor Qin's strength and mindset are truly admirable. I fear I will never reach such heights in this lifetime."

Qin Chuan simply smiled in response.

She had just lowered her head in acknowledgment of his superiority, and he accepted it with grace. After all, the strong should be respected.

After a long pause, the old woman asked, "Emperor Qin, your progress is the fastest I've ever seen. It's beyond anything I've heard of. How did you achieve this? Could you enlighten me?"

She quickly added, "Please don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to pry into your cultivation methods. I'm just curious about the reason behind your rapid growth."

Qin Chuan smiled and said, "When you've walked a path once before, walking it again is naturally much faster."

"You mean…" The old woman's eyes widened, her breathing becoming erratic. She took a deep breath and asked with a trembling voice, "Are you… cultivating anew after reincarnation?"

Her aged chest heaved heavily.

"To my knowledge, only those who have reached the Martial Emperor realm have the hope of preserving their consciousness in reincarnation, allowing them to retain their memories. Could it be that you…"

Qin Chuan chuckled bitterly, his voice low, "Heh, what's there to boast about? Reincarnating is merely the fate of those who were too weak to survive. A failure who clings to life after death. Being weak then, and still insignificant now."

His tone was filled with sarcasm, as if he was denying his own worth, carrying with it a sense of bitterness and unresolved pain from the past.

But in saying this, he indirectly admitted—he was indeed a Martial Emperor reincarnated!

"You… you really are…" The old woman's throat felt dry.

She was only a Four-Tribulation Realm Emperor, and one who had broken through with a weaker foundation. The Martial Emperor realm was beyond her reach, and even the status of Quasi-Emperor was impossible for her.

So, the presence of someone who was likely a reincarnated Martial Emperor before her was beyond shocking—it was like a mortal encountering a living god.

"Heh, whether I am or not, it doesn't matter anymore. That person was buried long ago. Neither the shame nor the glory of the past has anything to do with me now," Qin Chuan said with a self-deprecating shake of his head.

His expression was that of someone either evading the past or someone who had genuinely let it go, reaching a state of enlightenment and peace.

"You… you're being too hard on yourself," the old woman said, her voice strained as she tried to process what she was hearing. She was increasingly convinced that the man before her was indeed the reincarnation of a Martial Emperor, though it still felt surreal.

Half-believing, she decided to treat him with the utmost respect, even if it wasn't fully confirmed. After all, whether he was a reincarnated Martial Emperor or not, his strength far surpassed hers, demanding her respect regardless.

"Temple Master, I have important news to report!" A respectful voice came from outside the valley. It seemed to be one of the Northern Polar Temple's elders.

"Present it," the old woman commanded, her tone still dignified.

"Yes!" A beam of golden light flew into the valley, unfolding into a scroll of golden text above the massive lotus leaf.

The message read:

"The Ten Thousand Laws Heavenly Pool is about to open. The Wu family sincerely invites the geniuses of the Northern Region to witness the event and contemplate the laws. We also invite the esteemed sisters of the Northern Polar Temple to attend this grand occasion.

Signed: Wu Cheng!"