Chapter 522 - 291: Drinking Liquid Iron
The incident with Qin Yun’s son had disrupted their original itinerary, but they had made the trip in the end.
The group exchanged a great deal more information. Wei Zhenghong was in an excellent mood, and he was still grinning from ear to ear as he finally saw them off.
...
On Cloud Dragon Star, the Qin Family’s residence occupied a vast area. The region was filled with skyscrapers, and various aerial routes had to divert around it from a great distance.
But outside the metal gates, the atmosphere was tense.
Wu Feng was leading men from the Punishment Hall in a standoff with the people of the Qin Family. Neither side looked happy.
At a certain moment, a figure floated down, and the members of the Qin Family parted to make way.
Wu Feng watched the approaching Qin Yun with a grim expression and frowned. "Venerable, why won’t you let me investigate? I, Wu Feng, would never target anyone, nor would I show favoritism to anyone."
"Qin Guang died in a satellite city, killed by Deceitful God’s Followers. This falls squarely within the jurisdiction of my Punishment Hall, yet the Qin Family won’t let me get involved. Venerable, do you not trust me?"
He had rushed over the moment he received the news, but he had been stopped outside the Qin Family residence the entire time.
Qin Yun looked at Wu Feng, his expression unchanging. He shook his head faintly. "Martial Hall Master, your character is beyond question, but this has nothing to do with that. It is simply a matter of distrust."
"It is not you I distrust, Martial Hall Master, but others. My son’s death is suspicious in every aspect. Someone from within the Sect must have been involved. If we use people from within the Sect to investigate, word might get out."
"It is best to leave this matter for my Qin Family to handle ourselves."
Wu Feng’s brow furrowed. This explanation didn’t convince him.
But Qin Yun was a Venerable, after all, and it was his son who had died. If he didn’t want Wu Feng to investigate, there was nothing he could do. He could only say helplessly:
"In that case, we will take our leave. If the Venerable requires anything, you need only notify the Punishment Hall."
Qin Yun watched Wu Feng leave, then his figure floated away and vanished.
Deep within the Qin Family estate, Qin Guang’s memorial hall was already set up. His body lay in a crystal ice-coffin in the center, a solemn and dignified sight.
Qin Tianlin stood to one side. Though his brow was slightly wrinkled, his face showed little sign of grief.
Before long, Qin Yun floated in. He glanced at the body in the coffin, a faint ripple of emotion in the depths of his eyes that quickly vanished.
His gaze fell upon Qin Tianlin, and an invisible light emanated from him, enveloping them both. "A plundering profession. Is it true?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of excitement couldn’t help but appear on Qin Tianlin’s face. "That’s right. I’ve already verified it. I can indeed plunder professions. Grandfather, look..."
He stretched out his hand and tapped the air, causing an illusory, crimson-and-white long spear to appear. "This Holy Spear Master is the initial profession for Dawn Celestial Punishment."
"I found about twenty former Holy Hall members who once held the Holy Spear Master profession. It took me less than half an hour to extract this profession from them."
Qin Tianlin’s face was filled with irrepressible excitement. He spoke rapidly, "As long as I find enough people, in one month—no, ten days—I’ll be able to fuse all the professions required for Dawn Celestial Punishment into myself. When I advance to Tier Seven, I’ll be..."
Before he could finish, Qin Yun interrupted him. "Have you ever thought about just how many people would be needed to pave this path for you?"
"Well..." Qin Tianlin’s expression faltered.
Qin Yun continued, "The initial profession is one thing. The second and third sequences might also be simple enough. But what about the fourth sequence? The fifth?"
"Those people are already Tier Seven, Tier Eight, or even Tier Nine. How will you find them?"
It was the same problem as before. Those qualified to obtain a Holy Profession were, at the very least, in the top one hundred of the Holy List.
The old, weak, and disabled that Qin Tianlin had found before were a minority among those who had started on that path. Most had already reached a High Tier.
"Killing twenty Tier Sevens and twenty Tier Eights all at once, or even people who are still active in the Holy Hall... Do you really think the Ancient Kings are blind?"
’Well...’ Qin Tianlin froze, a trace of dissatisfaction in his heart. ’So what if a few people die? If they cultivate me, I’ll become one of the strongest at the Morning Star Tier, maybe even an additional Ancient King.’
Qin Tianlin’s expression shifted. He said in a low voice, "Setting aside the other Holy Professions, Immortal Vajra is our family’s Holy Profession..."
"What are you planning to do?" Qin Yun’s expression turned cold. "Pave your path with the blood of your own clansmen?"
Hearing this, Qin Tianlin couldn’t help but retort, "It’s just sacrificing a few people. Why not?"
"No means no," Qin Yun said coldly.
Qin Tianlin’s face was grim. ’I don’t know what my grandfather is so afraid of. As long as we’re careful and don’t leave any evidence, with our Qin Family’s status, even if others have suspicions, they’ll have no choice but to swallow them.’
’I can’t sacrifice my own people, and I can’t sacrifice outsiders. What’s the use of this ability, then?’
Emotions churned within him, but Qin Yun’s long-established authority kept him from saying anything in defiance.
Qin Yun glanced at him, his tone softening slightly. "Don’t be hasty with this. You have a long future ahead of you. Don’t risk a great loss for a small gain. Look at the bigger picture."
"Besides, it’s hard to say whether this ability has any hidden dangers. Since you’ve already plundered one profession, just wait and see for now."
’I told you long ago. This grandfather of yours is timid and afraid of trouble. He would never cultivate you with all his might.’
A faint, ethereal voice suddenly echoed in his ear, and Qin Tianlin couldn’t help but freeze.
Qin Yun looked at the silent, head-bowed Qin Tianlin and stressed again, "That fire is strange and unpredictable. If anything happens, tell me immediately. Understand?"
Listening to Qin Yun’s concerned words, Qin Tianlin couldn’t help but look up and nod. Still, he couldn’t resist asking, "Grandfather, can we at least start gathering information? Even if we don’t make a move, it would be good to have a..."
"Shut up!" Qin Yun’s face darkened. His gaze swept over Qin Guang’s corpse, the displeasure in his eyes growing. "Your father just died. Stay here and mourn for him!"
Qin Yun flicked his sleeve and left, leaving Qin Tianlin standing alone, his expression shifting between light and dark.
’Do you really think that guy is looking out for you? He promised me he would give this body of yours to me.’
’But right now, I’m more interested in that Su Chen, which is the only reason I haven’t taken over your body.’
"Su Chen?" Hearing that name, Qin Tianlin’s expression grew even uglier. He silently clenched his fists, his shadowy gaze sweeping over Qin Guang’s corpse.
"Are you sure that as long as I do as you say, I can become the strongest, step by step?"
’Of course. Just don’t forget to give me that Su Chen.’
"Don’t worry." A smirk pulled at the corner of Qin Tianlin’s mouth. "I won’t forget."
"Su Xingzhong..."
When Su Chen returned to the Floating Island, someone was already waiting for him. It was Song Yang, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. He greeted him, and Song Yang handed over a crimson metal box that radiated waves of heat.
"The item you requested."
"Thank you for the trouble." Su Chen took it and expressed his thanks.
"No trouble at all, you’re too kind," Song Yang said quickly. He declined Su Chen’s invitation to stay and turned to leave.
"Hmm..." Su Chen looked at the metal box in his hand. Its surface was etched with complex, faintly glowing symbols. A corner of his mouth twitched as if he’d just thought of something.
Back in the training room, he opened the crimson metal box. A heat wave immediately distorted his vision, making the air ripple like water.
Inside the metal box was a black metal bowl containing a bluish-red liquid. Its intense heat warped the surrounding air. It was the melted Celestial Forged Object.
Integrating the Celestial Forged Object into one’s body was a requirement that was both difficult and simple at the same time.
To save time, he was using the most brutal method: melting it down and drinking it directly, forcing his body to absorb it.
But even for him, now that the moment was here, he couldn’t help but hesitate. ’This stuff is hotter than molten lava.’
Su Chen’s throat bobbed. Just in case, he first integrated the Control Secret Artifacts into his body. Thanks to the Traits of the Soldier Master, fusing with a Secret Artifact provided an all-around enhancement to his body, which naturally included his throat and esophagus.
Gritting his teeth, he downed it in one gulp. The smell of scorched metal mixed with the tang of iron filled his mouth. The scalding liquid slid down his throat like molten iron pouring into his stomach.
A faint burning sensation spread through his abdomen, but it was still bearable.
’Whew, good thing I have the Soldier Master’s enhancement. Otherwise, it would have been hard to withstand this on my own,’ Su Chen reflected.
At the same time, his Gulping Stomach began to work laboriously, gradually digesting and breaking down the substance.
The reason he chose this method was that it wouldn’t delay his progress in developing his profession; the two processes could run in parallel.