Qin Wentian’s request

Qin Wentian's request

Qin Wentian's composed directive hung in the air, ushering in a silence so profound that the drop of a pin would resonate through it.

The mastermind behind the challenge had been Ouyang Kuangsheng, the one who suggested the intergenerational exchange of pointers with the Great Solar Chen Clan. Yet, now, a man even bolder than Ouyang Kuangsheng stood beside him, defiantly proclaiming, "Come at me all together."

This audacious proclamation stunned the arena. Those assembled may have held cultivation levels at the seventh stage of Yuanfu, but their combat prowess far exceeded their ranks, capable of easily taking down opponents at the eighth stage of Yuanfu.

From the six transcendent powers, twelve disciples had been selected to compete. While some might not make the cut for the year-end ranking battle due to their lower cultivation bases, preventing them from becoming the stars of their generation, this arena offered them a chance to shine. This young man, however, disregarded all that.

Chen Zhan of the Great Solar Chen Clan directed his inquiry at him. The name was unfamiliar—Qin Wentian.

And, among the audience, apart from the Hua Clan and the Pill Emperor Hall from the Moon Continent, most remained ignorant of Qin Wentian's identity.

This event marked his first public appearance among the major powers, and considering his potential, certainly not his last.

Unbeknownst to the assembly, the figure before them would soon become the embodiment of a tempest that would engulf Grand Xia.

"I'm Qin Wentian," he answered calmly. The radiance of the Great Solar Art illuminated Chen Zhan's visage, turning him into a blazing, fiery orb.

A heavy step brought Chen Zhan forward, a single stride sending shockwaves through the arena as he bathed in the sun's blinding brilliance. "You arrogant brat, you don't know your place. Allow the two of us from the Chen Clan to take you on first."

The remaining combatants held back. To them, ganging up on Qin Wentian held no glory. Chen Zhan's prowess was undeniably exceptional; if he wished to engage, so be it. They preferred to let Chen Zhan gauge Qin Wentian's strength before intervening.

Flexing his fist, Qin Wentian stepped forward. Simultaneously, Ouyang Kuangsheng positioned himself at the arena's center.

"Enough dawdling." Energy surged around Qin Wentian's clenched fist, an aura of demonic power emanating from him.

With a resounding impact, Chen Zhan advanced, his gaze fixed on Qin Wentian. He unleashed the might of the Great Solar Energy, radiating an overwhelming pressure. All present could feel the temperature spike, as if the surroundings were ablaze.

In an instant, Chen Zhan ascended into the sky, positioning himself there. Beams of sunlight converged upon him, cocooning him in a fiery sun-flame armor. Abruptly, nine blazing Great Solar Universe Swords descended with the ferocity of a hurricane.

"PERISH!"

Nine streams of light trailed behind the descending swords, each set on Qin Wentian.

Chen Zhan aimed to etch his identity, a member of the Great Solar Chen Clan, into everyone's minds.

A wicked grin danced on Qin Wentian's lips as he stared up at Chen Zhan, launching himself skyward to meet the nine solar swords head-on. Ignoring the imminent threat, he rotated his palms, unleashing a deluge of palm shadows that obliterated the Great Solar Universe Swords.

Chen Zhan's expression darkened, yet, even in the face of this show of strength, he still underestimated Qin Wentian's capabilities.

Then, in the blink of an eye, an intense gaze pierced Chen Zhan's eyes, a sensation akin to a splitting headache hammering at his consciousness. Amid the audience's scrutiny, Qin Wentian emerged, abruptly appearing before Chen Zhan. Despite Chen Zhan's attempts to release his Great Solar Energy, his defense proved futile against Qin Wentian's single punch, which sent him hurtling from the arena, screams of agony mingling with his rage.

With a splash, Chen Zhan plummeted into the lake.

"Overpowering through sheer might!"

Spectators' eyes lit up, a realization dawning. Qin Wentian had capitalized on his strength advantage to crush Chen Zhan.

Before pure might, other tactics were rendered moot.

Strength bore irresistible force, capable of shattering innate techniques, provided the wielder's power was sufficient.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Kuangsheng contended against the other Chen Clan contender. Once again, he held the upper hand, gradually advancing and sealing his victory with a solitary punch.

A resounding triumph crowned the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan against the Great Solar Chen Clan.

By now, the crowd understood the disparity. In comparisons involving seventh-stage cultivators from the younger generation, none could rival the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan.

But Qin Wentian showed no inclination to halt. He descended with unflinching focus on Wang Xiao. "Step aside."

As his voice faded, Wang Xiao found himself submerged in a crushing pressure. Alarm flitted across his features as a torrent of sharpness surged within him. Both Wang Xiao and his Wang Clan comrade ascended to confront Qin Wentian, only to meet the colossal palm of a demon ape unleashed by Qin Wentian. The impact launched them through the air, leaving the duo airborne.

A furious gust of wind surged as five or six figures converged upon Qin Wentian, their unleashed Astral Souls casting a brilliant array. Simultaneously, the remaining two cultivators charged at Ouyang Kuangsheng. Recognizing Qin Wentian's dominance, they understood that inaction meant certain defeat.

Mid-air, Qin Wentian stood unfazed, arms folded, refusing to yield an inch.

In the next heartbeat, the group reached him, launching an onslaught of formidable innate techniques. Qin Wentian watched calmly, responding with a single palm strike.

"BOOM!"

A resonance reminiscent of ancient bells echoed. Those closest to Qin Wentian felt their hearts hammer painfully, as if on the brink of pulverization. Groans of agony accompanied the trickle of blood from their mouths.

"BOOM!"

Another echo resounded. Qin Wentian's figure flickered, demonic qi surging to the heavens as he initiated his counterattack.

"Bam, bam, bam…"

Within a breath's span, his palm struck each assailant, shattering their defenses without exception.

Floating aloft, his commanding presence gave spectators a surreal sensation, as if trapped in a dream.

A thought echoed through the minds of the audience: "Peerless among equals."

With such combat prowess, Qin Wentian undeniably stood unrivaled among seventh-level Yuanfu cultivators.

The expressions of the major powers shifted, growing increasingly solemn. Only the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan exhibited satisfaction. Clearly, Ouyang Kuangsheng's faith in his choice was well-placed. The audacious young man who had stood against Ouyang Ting in her own territory was undeniably a match for him in strength.

Duan Qingshan and Ouyang Ting, however, bore disgruntled expressions. Qin Wentian's magnificence felt like a slap in the face. How had he grown so powerful so swiftly?

From the Pill Emperor Hall's direction, Luo He's eyes glinted with sharpness. This young man was genuinely exceptional. It was no wonder Qingcheng struggled to forget him.

In a sense, Qin Wentian mirrored the past Hua Taixu—seamlessly quelling his peers, dominating Grand Xia without rival. There was no doubt: upon reaching the ninth level of Yuanfu, he would secure the top spot on the Heavenly Fate Ranking.

Mo Qingcheng's eyelashes danced with anticipation. If that were the case, her confidence in Qin Wentian surged. He would undoubtedly triumph over Zhan Chen.

Down in the arena, Ouyang Kuangsheng had already subdued his adversaries. However, his brilliance paled in comparison to Qin Wentian's radiance.

As Qin Wentian landed on the arena, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Ouyang Kuangsheng. A chuckle escaped Ouyang Kuangsheng's lips as he declared, "Elders, the honor of making the request goes to my brother Qin Wentian. I hope you all shall honor your word."

"As long as the request isn't utterly unreasonable, we shall not decline," stated the elder from the Chen Clan, his expression frosty. How could he sport a smile after witnessing a prominent member of his clan being thoroughly trounced?

Qin Wentian fixed his gaze on Luo He. "My request is this: I humbly request a private conversation with Senior Luo He for one hour. I believe this modest plea isn't overly audacious."

Luo He and Zhan Chen's countenances stiffened. Zhan Chen hastily intervened, "Martial Aunt, Junior Sister Qingcheng is as pure as jade, a celestial maiden. How could we permit her to be alone with someone else?"

Bewilderment etched the faces of the gathered powers. Did this young man showcase such a dazzling performance solely to pursue beauty? Did he go to such lengths to demonstrate his strength for the prospect of an hour-long rendezvous with Mo Qingcheng? How amusing.

However exceptional Qin Wentian's prowess, it was pure folly to imagine winning over Mo Qingcheng's heart.

"One hour is acceptable. I don't have any objections, Master," Mo Qingcheng replied obediently. She seemed afraid that refusing might inconvenience Luo He. Yet, Luo He comprehended Mo Qingcheng's true sentiments.

"Senior Luo He." All elder-level figures had witnessed and endorsed this arrangement. Given Mo Qingcheng's concurrence, there seemed no reason for Luo He to dawdle," Ouyang Kuangsheng interjected straightforwardly. Luo He grimaced, saying, "You mustn't venture too far."

"Understood," Mo Qingcheng nodded, a subtle smile gracing her eyes.

Qin Wentian also grinned. "Miss Qingcheng, if you would."

With that, he pivoted and strode away, Mo Qingcheng trailing behind. As they departed, they left behind a multitude of envious and covetous onlookers.

Here was a young man who fought to capture the attention of a beauty—an unconventional approach to courting, yet not without its charm.

"Hmph, just another lustful suitor vying for Mo Qingcheng's beauty," Ouyang Ting muttered in a low voice. Even she couldn't help feeling a tinge of envy when in Mo Qingcheng's presence.

"Now that we're all gathered, let's proceed to the banquet," the elder from the Chen Clan proposed, aiming to defuse the tension.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng had already ventured far from the island, vanishing from view beneath the watchful gazes of those green with jealousy and spite.

Shortly after, they reached the residence currently occupied by members of the Pill Emperor Hall. Upon entering a pavilion adjacent to a babbling stream, Mo Qingcheng came to a halt. An irrepressible smile blossomed on her face as she regarded Qin Wentian, shedding the air of sanctity she usually wore like a cloak. The true Mo Qingcheng emerged—the mischievous spark that Qin Wentian had glimpsed back in Chu. Had anyone from the Pill Emperor Hall witnessed this transformation, they would have been left astounded at the metamorphosis of their revered goddess.

Qin Wentian remained silent, his gaze fixed on Mo Qingcheng. After several moments, Mo Qingcheng rolled her eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's been so long since I've seen you. It's only natural that I want to soak in your presence," Qin Wentian replied, moving closer until he stood before her. Mo Qingcheng's tender form pressed against him as she nestled in his embrace. In a voice infused with softness, she said, "You must have endured so much during all these years."

"I'm fine. Just look at how robust my muscles have become," Qin Wentian quipped with a grin. He continued, "And you, how have things been for you at the Pill Emperor Hall?"

"Not bad. My Master spoils me a lot," Mo Qingcheng said, taking Qin Wentian's hand and leading him toward the stream. She retrieved a porcelain bottle and handed it to him, saying, "These are third-ranked limit-break pellets. After sensing your aura back then, I inadvertently concocted them. Unfortunately, each batch only produces five pellets, but that should be sufficient. You only need one of these pills to experience the effects. Taking two would be a waste of a Heavenly Treasure. Take it, it's for you."

Mo Qingcheng explained that the concoction had been a casual accident, and Qin Wentian had no reason to doubt her words. Unbeknownst to him, the true cost of producing this small batch of limit-break pellets—the immense effort she had invested and the heavy price she had paid—remained concealed.