Boom!
The sound of the courtyard wall collapsing echoed through the air. From the rubble, Yun Qingfeng stood up, his face filled with resignation as he looked at the young figure bathed in lightning, slowly walking toward him.
"This brat!" Yun Qingfeng took a deep breath and hunched his body, bursting forth with speed as he charged at Lin Qian. His speed was pushed to the absolute limit.
The icy soul power surged around his body, forming an armor-like barrier of frost. His fists glowed with condensed power, appearing like ice-forged gauntlets.
Closing in rapidly on Lin Qian, Yun Qingfeng opted not to attack directly. He had already tried going head-to-head with this monstrous nephew of his earlier and had been knocked back embarrassingly.
"Left!" Yun Qingfeng's eyes sharpened, and cold soul power surged toward Lin Qian as if trying to freeze him in place.
The cold air naturally had the effect of slowing down movement.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning snapped through the air. Lin Qian, who should have been standing right in front of Yun Qingfeng, had disappeared. A voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
"Uncle, your nephew isn't just strong, you know."
Boom!
Yun Qingfeng felt a heavy blow land on his back, sending him stumbling forward.
Gritting his teeth, Yun Qingfeng twisted mid-air and kicked backward in desperation.
Thud!
The kick landed squarely on Lin Qian's chest, but Yun Qingfeng stared in shock. His nephew didn't budge an inch. It was as though Lin Qian's body was an immovable wall. Even though his kick had landed cleanly, it was as if he had kicked empty air.
The recoil from his own kick sent Yun Qingfeng flying backward even faster than before.
"Uncle, you've lost," Lin Qian said with a grin, standing in place as he watched Yun Qingfeng crash to the ground.
Yun Qingfeng rubbed his head in defeat as he got up, looking at Lin Qian with resignation. "You're absurdly strong, kid. But my soul power clearly infiltrated your body. Why wasn't your speed affected at all?"
Lin Qian extended his right hand, revealing a palm brimming with icy cold energy. "Uncle, don't forget—I'm the legitimate heir of the Yun family. How could I not possess ice-based soul power?"
"The legitimate Yun family, huh..." Yun Qingfeng sighed, looking at Lin Qian with a self-deprecating smile. "I'm supposed to be your uncle, yet here I am, getting beaten so soundly by my nephew. What an embarrassment."
"You're not weak, Uncle," interjected Yun Fu, chuckling from the side. "It's just that our young master here is far too strong."
Indeed, the others surrounding them looked at Lin Qian with admiration and awe. From the very beginning of the sparring match, Lin Qian had gone on the offensive, moving with such speed that Yun Qingfeng could barely keep up.
During their exchange, Lin Qian had showcased not just his raw strength but also his wealth of combat experience. In every aspect—whether speed or power—he far surpassed Yun Qingfeng.
His uncle's defeat was completely justified.
"As was expected," said one of the Yun family elders, speaking to a companion. "We knew Yun Qingfeng wouldn't stand a chance against Lin Qian."
"Indeed," replied the companion, nodding. "But still, the young master is truly remarkable."
"The legitimate Yun family... The rumors are spreading far and wide. We who once defected from the Yun family are now calling ourselves the rightful branch, while the others have become traitors. It's a dramatic reversal of fortune."
Several days had passed since the sparring match, but people in the valley town still frequently talked about it. However, what sparked even more conversation was the recent news spreading throughout the Central Domain.
Lin Qian was now known as the heir of the ancient Huaxia Empire, its current emperor. His grandfather, Yun Fan, was recognized as the rightful leader of the Yun family, while Yun Hu, once considered the true head of the family, was now branded a traitor.
What had shocked everyone even more was the fact that Yuan Zhizun, the head of the legendary Yuan Family, had personally appeared and vouched for Lin Qian's legitimacy.
For the people of the Human Race, the Yuan family was a symbol of protection. Anything said by Yuan Zhizun was considered absolute truth.
If even he affirmed it, then the story of the Huaxia Empire must be real.
Of course, none of them knew that Yuan Zhizun's actions were entirely at Lin Qian's command.
While the Yuan family couldn't interfere in disputes between factions in the Central Domain, Yuan Zhizun's public endorsement was more lethal than any direct involvement.
As a result, many factions that had previously been allied with the Yun family had severed ties, citing various excuses to end their cooperation.
Crash!
Yun Hu smashed everything within his reach. The disciple who had delivered the news lay dead on the ground, a casualty of his fury.
He had just learned that several factions that had been supplying the Yun family with resources had suddenly stopped trading with them, citing a lack of materials.
Did Yun Hu believe their excuses?
Of course not. They had clearly been swayed by the rumors, cutting ties because of that ridiculous story. Yun Hu knew the tale was nothing more than a fabrication, but he couldn't refute it.
If he tried to deny it, their true nature might be exposed!
"Damn it! If this continues, our already delayed plans will have to be completely abandoned." Yun Hu's chest heaved with rage. The consequences of his plan's failure, and the punishment that awaited him, filled him with terror.
"Lin Qian... it's all because of that boy. That bastard just came out of nowhere!" Yun Hu's eyes turned bloodshot as he roared furiously. "I'll make sure you die a miserable death!"
Meanwhile, in the town nestled within the Yongquan Prefecture, Lin Qian's entire family had gathered in his bedroom. His grandparents, Yun Fan and Yun Rong, sat at a table, puzzled as they looked at their grandson.
Lin Di and Yun Yunyan were equally confused. Yun Qingfeng stood behind Lin Qian, gripping his shoulders in disbelief. "What did you just say, my dear nephew?"
"I said your cultivation techniques are garbage and need to be replaced," Lin Qian replied calmly, removing Yun Qingfeng's hands from his shoulders. "It seems like you've all been cultivating with high-tier techniques, but they're still pitifully inadequate."
These five people were Lin Qian's closest family. He couldn't bear the thought of them continuing to cultivate with such inferior techniques.
"This brat... You think our high-tier techniques are trash? Then tell me, what techniques should we be using?" Yun Qingfeng crossed his arms, eyeing his nephew skeptically.
"Naturally, the best techniques are those tailored to your individual needs."
Yun Qingfeng burst into laughter. "Tailored techniques? And how exactly are you going to create a custom technique for someone like your grandmother, at her level?"