Endless Ascension

Chapter 29: I Kept a Trick Up My Sleeve

On the training ground, everyone was silent, as if struck by lightning, staring at the massive head.

The once bustling training ground suddenly fell into a deafening silence.

Qin Ze clapped his hands and walked over to the scorer, feigning ignorance. "How many points does this count for?"

The scorer swallowed, his lips trembling slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he stuttered, "A fifth-order beast... counts for... 1000 points."

"Rumble..."

The scorer's voice was like a fuse, instantly igniting a bomb.

The training ground erupted in screams. No one could believe it; it was like a dream.

Even masters in the Refined Qi Realm couldn't guarantee killing a fifth-order beast. How powerful was Qin Ze?

Shocking, unbelievably shocking.

It was terrifying.

"A fifth-order beast?"

Qin Zhantian's body swayed, and he instantly appeared beside the head of the Violent Golden Ape. Intense qi rose from his body like flames of war. Visible qi stripes continuously emerged from Qin Zhantian, pressing Qin Ze with an oppressive aura that made him feel suffocated, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Just because you're in the Refined Qi Realm, you think you're amazing?"

"Wait until I develop; I'll make you look good."

Qin Ze cursed inwardly. Qin Zhantian also felt his aura changing involuntarily. He immediately suppressed his qi, becoming内敛, and then looked at Qin Ze. "Did you kill it?"

"If I say yes, will you believe me?"

Qin Ze smiled faintly, already making a decision in his heart.

Qin Zhantian looked at him, his brows furrowed slightly as if he could see through Qin Ze's soul. Eventually, he shook his head. "No."

"Haha..."

Qin Ze laughed loudly. "The clan leader is indeed a master in the Refined Qi Realm. It's impossible to deceive you."

"The night before last, more than ten powerful individuals hunted a fifth-order beast. The beast rampaged out of the Kunlun Mountains. How could I have the strength to kill it? I was too busy trying to hide. Many Qin family disciples died under its giant hammer. At that moment, I was filled with regret, regretting my lack of strength. Otherwise, how could I have allowed it to harm my brothers?"

Qin Ze spoke indignantly, his eyes blazing with anger when mentioning his brothers' tragic deaths. He then swallowed and continued, "Those ten-plus powerful individuals chased and killed it after a day and a night of pursuit. I was just nearby. When they left, I ran over. There's no rule in the clan that says you can't take a beast killed by someone else, so I brought it back."

"Clan Leader, can I get points for this?"

Qin Ze spoke fluently, like a storyteller, and at the crucial moments, his pace changed, managing to convince some people.

Qin Zhantian carefully examined Qin Ze, considering the truthfulness of his words. He was inwardly amazed. Qin Ze's strength had recovered so quickly in just a few months. Qin Kun and Qin Yang hadn't returned, which meant they were definitely dead. Did they die at his hands, or as he said, under the attack of the fifth-order beast?

Regardless, the rules of the Autumn Hunt Competition were fixed, but people were adaptable. If Qin Xiangtian lost another son, he might do something outrageous. Even if Qin Kun was killed by the fifth-order beast, Qin Xiangtian would still blame Qin Ze.

The Qin family was currently in a transitional period, with few outstanding young disciples. Regardless, Qin Ze was currently the most outstanding disciple in the Qin family. The family invitational tournament was just half a month away, and the Qin family couldn't afford to be in a slump.

Thinking about these things rapidly, he also secretly observed Qin Ze.

Qin Zhantian patted Qin Ze's shoulder. "Of course, you can get points."

Qin Ze immediately felt a powerful qi permeate his body. "Damn, trying to test me?"

In an instant, Qin Ze suppressed his qi without any resistance, allowing Qin Zhantian's qi to search through him.

Qin Zhantian was searching for the beast core.

He didn't fully believe Qin Ze's words. Looking at the wounds on the Violent Golden Ape's head, he knew this couldn't have been done by a skilled hand. The head was pitted and holed, clearly indicating that the beast core had been excavated after several deep digs.

So he didn't believe Qin Ze. His qi lingered in Qin Ze's dantian for a moment. Finding nothing, he withdrew his qi, feeling slightly relieved. Then he announced loudly, "Next, I宣布 that the first place in this Autumn Hunt Competition is Qin Ze."

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

Qin Ze smiled, but his mind was filled with thoughts. "Black Brother was right; the temptation of the beast core is indeed too great. There's not a single good person in the Qin family. They all want to snoop on my beast core?"

"Do they think I'll consume it?"

"Fuck, it's a good thing I kept a trick up my sleeve."

——

Qin Ze's performance in the Autumn Hunt Competition once again stirred up Qinghe City.

In just a few days, he became the shining new star of Qinghe City again.

This made the Xiao family very unhappy.

Now that Qin Kun was dead, Xiao Ruqian would become a widow before even marrying into the Qin family.

Xiao Lie paced in the hall, deep wrinkles appearing on his forehead as he pondered how to reconnect with Qin Ze. After much contemplation, he realized that his daughter, Xiao Ruqian, was the only way.

Remembering Qin Ze's previous affection for Xiao Ruqian, Xiao Lie's face revealed a cold smile. Then he called Xiao Ruqian to his side...

——

Hibiscus Restaurant.

"Fatty, I'm back."

Qin Ze entered Hibiscus Restaurant cheerfully. The manager, Zhang Dafu, stumbled out, his face displaying a disgusting grin as he respectfully said, "Congratulations, Young Master, on winning first place in the Autumn Hunt Competition. You are truly a dragon among men..."

"Alright, alright, stop with the compliments. Where's Fatty?" Qin Ze waved his hand. The restaurant was closed, but where was Fatty?

"Meng Da is in the Heavenly Room, engaging in a drinking contest with a big man," Zhang Dafu leaned in and whispered to Qin Ze, "That big man's strength might be at the Spirit Condensation Realm..."

Qin Ze smiled knowingly and quickly ran upstairs to the private room. Meng Lei and Black Rock were both red in the face and neck, each grasping a vat of aged liquor, neither willing to concede.

Seeing Qin Ze walk in, Meng Lei grinned and exclaimed, "The Young Master is back."

"You've become Meng Da; you'll turn the place upside down if I don't come back soon," Qin Ze walked in, smiled, and then respectfully said, "Black Brother, did my brother treat you well?"

Meng Lei stood aside, grinning foolishly. Since Qin Ze entered the Autumn Hunt Competition venue, Zhang Dafu had been calling him Meng Da. It felt strange initially, but now it felt great.

Black Rock laughed heartily, "Fantastic! I haven't met someone who can drink like this for a long time."

"How about another vat?"

"Bring it on; I'm not afraid of you."

Qin Ze was puzzled. Two alcoholics had collided.

——

Under the bright moon and stars, Yun Man stood by the window, looking at the full moon hanging in the sky, deep in thought.

Occasionally, she let out a 'puchi' laugh, and after the laughter, her face was filled with a faint happiness.