Everyone at the Qin Residence was horrified and bewildered; Qin Qing had undergone a sudden and radical transformation in comparison to the Young Master they knew.
Beyond that—Qin Qing, without having awakened his Martial Soul as an ordinary martial artist, had defeated the Heavenly Soul Warrior Qin Lie!
This completely overturned their belief in a vast chasm between ordinary martial artists and Heavenly Soul Warriors.
Of course, what the people of the Qin Residence had not expected was that despite Qin Zhen's stern warning, Qin Qing still, faced with Zhen, violently crippled one of Qin Lie's hands!
It was known that, over the past two years, Qin Zhen's power within the family had reached its zenith, gradually taking control of all its major and minor affairs, with scarcely anyone daring to defy him.
"You little beast, did you not hear what I said?"
Qin Zhen's eyes were about to split open, glaring at Qin Qing as if he wished he could tear this junior member apart!
"I told you to stop, can't you hear? Do you have a death wish?"
Qin Zhen roared.
Qin Qing turned to look at Qin Zhen with a cold smile playing on his lips.
"What? Feeling pity now?"
"When my sister was bullied, did you show even a shred of mercy?"
As he spoke, Qin Qing once again stepped forward, placing his foot on Qin Lie's other arm!
"Ah..."
The cries of agony were heard again!
The surrounding area of the Martial Arts Ground became eerily quiet!
Qin Qing had disregarded Qin Zhen's warning and broken both of Qin Lie's arms.
This time, it seemed like a true fight to the death!
"Ah, you little beast!"
Qin Zhen's features were so twisted by rage that he seemed unrecognizable; he couldn't contain his fury and charged into the Martial Arts Ground like a bolt of lightning, lunging toward Qin Qing.
"Ice Finger!"
Qin Zhen stretched out a finger, targeting Qin Qing.
"Swish!"
The air itself seemed to turn frosty.
Qin Zhen, a Soul Refinement Realm martial artist, used his Martial Soul Power in a way completely incomparable to Qin Lie, who was in the late stages of the Tempering Body Realm.
Enhanced by the power of his Martial Soul, a terrifying chill seeped from Qin Zhen's fingertip, rendering the surrounding air icy cold, and even the ground for several feet around instantly frosted over with a layer of ice half a finger-thick.
"Be careful!"
Qin Tong and the others called out loudly in warning.
However, it was too late for Qin Qing to dodge!
Qin Zhen was too fast!
Yet, it seemed Qin Qing had no intention of dodging at all.
His eyes blazed with battle spirit, and as Qin Zhen's crushing finger bore down on him, he punched out instead!
"Crash!"
The air roiled as if it were twisting.
This was merely the simplest martial arts technique of the Qin Residence, the Gale Fist.
However, as executed by Qin Qing, it appeared as profound and unfathomable as a higher-level martial arts technique, its power shocking!
"Boom!"
The next moment, Qin Qing and Qin Zhen collided fiercely.
Everyone thought that this collision would instantly decide the victor between the two.
After all, one was only in the Tempering Body Realm, whereas the other was in the late stages of the Soul Refinement Realm.
The difference in their Cultivation Realms was already vast, not to mention that Qin Qing had not even awakened his Martial Soul!
However, what happened next made everyone's heart lurch violently.
Under the force of the fierce collision, the ground of the Martial Arts Ground seemed to shake violently.
Amidst the rising dust, the young man in the green robe had formations of visible frost in his eyebrows and at his temples.
Yet, he merely staggered backward six or seven steps.
This was a far cry from the expected outcome of being sent flying with severe injuries, as the Qin Family members had anticipated.
Even more so—the other party, Qin Zhen, this middle-aged man who had cultivated for over twenty more years than Qin Qing, was also forced to retreat three steps due to the shock.
That's right!
The Soul Refinement Realm Qin Zhen was actually forced back three steps by Qin Qing of the Tempering Body Realm!
Even Qin Zhen himself was immensely shocked.
"How... How can this little beast possess such immense strength?"
"He... He's clearly only in the Body Refining Realm."
"Could it be, he was hiding his true strength? Is he not in the Tempering Body Realm? Had he already awakened his Martial Soul and stepped into the Soul Refinement Realm?"
Qin Zhen's thoughts raced, his eyes flickering uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, the murderous intent in his heart boiled over.
It was no longer just because of Qin Lie and the position of Young Master, but the young man in green robes before him even made him feel a cold chill in his heart.
If this young man really had been hiding his cultivation these past years, then such cunning was enough to strike fear into others!
Qin Zhen became even more certain of his speculation.
Only in this way could he explain why Qin Qing could possess such formidable strength and why he could gravely injure Qin Lie with a single move.
"Die!"
The killing thought in Qin Zhen's heart could no longer be contained; he was set on consigning Qin Qing to death!
With his claws swiping through the air and a surge of cold air, Qin Zhen attacked again like a ghostly apparition...
However, this time, a figure suddenly appeared, blocking in front of Qin Qing.
"Whoosh whoosh!"
Flames blazed as a golden lion wrapped in a whirl of fire appeared in the void.
It was Qin Tao!
Qin Qing's second uncle, Qin Tao!
His Heavenly Martial Soul was a Fiery Golden Lion.
"Boom!"
Qin Tao and Qin Zhen collided, a clash between ice and fire.
This time, Qin Zhen was sent flying backward, tumbling several times in the air before he steadied himself.
Meanwhile, Qin Tao remained rooted to the spot, unmoved.
"Qin Tao, what are you doing?"
Qin Zhen steadied himself, glared at Qin Tao, and shouted loudly.
Qin Tao's brow lifted. "What about you? What do you think you are doing?"
"What do I want to do?" Qin Zhen laughed angrily. "That little beast, Qin Qing, disabled my son's arms. If I don't kill him, how can I assuage the rage in my heart?"
"Qin Qing and your son, Qin Lie, were engaged in fair and open competition. Your son was outmatched, and though defeated by Qin Qing, he did not concede. Qin Qing disabling his arms did not violate any rules!"
Qin Tao, his face stern, continued, "And you, before the competition had even concluded, intervened in the Martial Arts Ground, breaking the fair fight. In fact, it is you who has broken the clan rules!"
"Oh? Qin Zhen, perhaps you think that in the past two years within the Qin Residence, you could cover the sky with one hand, and thus the Qin family's clan rules do not apply to you?"
With those words from Qin Tao, the surrounding people of the Qin Residence also came to a sudden realization.
Indeed.
The competition between Qin Qing and Qin Lie was conducted according to the clan rules.
And it was also to decide on the appointment of a new Young Master.
Both were engaged in a fair fight, and though Qin Lie was knocked down, he had not admitted defeat.
According to the rules, Qin Qing had the right to continue the fight.
There was no rule that stated he had to pull his punches.
Moreover, the moves Qin Lie had used on Qin Qing were clearly intended to take his life.
Therefore, before the contest ended, no one was allowed to intervene without cause.
Qin Zhen entering the fray and attacking Qin Qing was not only bullying a younger, weaker opponent whose Martial Soul had not yet awakened but also a violation of the clan rules!
"Clan rules? Ha..." Qin Zhen sneered coldly, "Qin Tao, in the Qin Residence now, I am the clan rule!"
"What's more, if you disagree, feel free to leave the Qin Residence!"
Qin Zhen was incredibly arrogant, while several other Qin family members also rushed over.
"Qin Tao, the wise adapt. You should clearly see the overall situation of the Qin Residence now!" someone pointed at Qin Tao and said with a cold laugh.
"That little beast, Qin Qing, dealing such a ruthless blow to his same-generation clan member. Being so cruel at such a young age, he deserves a harsh lesson!"
"He really thinks he can do whatever he wants in the Qin Residence just because he might be the Young Master? Daring to disable the arms of Young Master Qin Lie, I think we should chop off all his limbs and hang him outside the Qin Residence for public display!"
A few others looked sinisterly at Qin Qing, flattering Qin Zhen in this way...
"Qin Qing, kneel down for me!"
Just then, a voice filled with the wisdom of years called out.
The next moment, an elder slowly walked forward.
His face was gaunt, and he appeared emaciated, but he emitted an extremely dangerous vibe!
The elder of the Qin Residence—Qin Wujian!
Qin Wujian watched Qin Qing with a cold gaze, releasing an incredibly terrifying aura that made the surrounding Qin family members involuntarily hold their breath, daring not to utter another word.
And he directed this terrible pressure onto Qin Qing, trying to force him to kneil immediately.
However, inside Qin Qing's body, a spirit of defiance erupted.
He hadn't done anything wrong; why should he kneel?
Qin Qing looked up and met the gaze of the Qin family elder:
"Make me kneel? Why?"