The purpose of Elder Feng Xi's visit was to discuss the matter of the Dragon Mountain magic array control competition scheduled for two years hence with Qigu. Seeing the trouble that had befallen the Kaine family, he felt it inappropriate to bring it up. He pulled the sobbing Philia to her feet and excused himself. Qigu, himself lacking any spirit for pleasantries, simply instructed a servant to escort them out before letting out a long sigh and slumping heavily back into his seat.

Elder Yuqing stood motionless for a long time, seemingly unable to process what had occurred.

“Patriarch, Chen Feng is your biological son, regardless. Even if he committed a fault, isn't this punishment perhaps a bit too severe?”

Qigu sighed, his eyes conveying an indescribable weariness.

“If he is not punished, the Demonic Faction families will certainly not let this matter rest easily! Did you not catch the implication in everything Stuart said just now? Every sentence was an attempt to pin the blame on the Demonic Faction! These petty tricks are far too elementary to deceive me! However, my decision to deal with Little Five wasn't born out of fear of them. In the competition for the Dragon Mountain sealing rights two years from now, Little Five would likely prove useless in any future confrontation. Trading him away to create a sense of complacency in the opposition—that part, at least, was worthwhile! But… the Demonic Faction families, forcing me to cast out my own son—I will certainly exact vengeance for this…” Qigu’s right hand showed bulging veins, his gaze filled with unyielding resolve.

The surrounding elders nodded in agreement. For the Patriarch to wield such decisiveness, even against his own kin, demonstrated a foresight that few could match.

“Patriarch, is it true that Chen Feng injured Gubo?” Elder Yuqing, remembering how Chen Feng had just crushed the steward’s skull with a single punch, suddenly inquired.

In this society, all servants were considered lower class; a dead servant could always be replaced, so the killing of the steward had shocked few people.

“True? Elder Yuqing, how could you be so confused!” Qigu sneered. “The Demonic Faction families might have sensed something and simply fabricated an excuse to provoke us. Beating up a few uncultivated people is nothing unusual. Do you truly believe Little Five could defeat a Second-Rank Formal Mage? But what is the Demonic Faction truly planning? They should know Little Five has absolutely no Qi sensation. Why are they still using him as a smokescreen? If they had claimed that Little Three, Soa, injured Gubo, I might have believed it.”

“That is true!” Elder Yuqing let out a breath of relief. “Soa’s talent is indeed exceptional! Reaching the level of a Third-Rank Fighter at sixteen—even at Tianfeng Academy, renowned as the premier institute, he would still be considered top-tier!”

The other elders nodded in unison.

The mastery of Qi sensation is the most critical aspect of Dou Qi cultivation. Many people never achieve Qi sensation in their entire lives. Even possessing the most profound cultivation techniques would be utterly futile. This is unrelated to post-natal training; it is entirely determined by the innate predisposition toward Qi. Thus, transitioning from an ordinary person to a First-Rank Fighter is incredibly difficult. However, once one becomes a Fighter, the pace of cultivation accelerates significantly, though talent still plays a determining role.

Typically, ten years serves as a benchmark. If a person can become a First-Rank Fighter within ten years, it proves they have the potential to reach Ninth-Rank Fighter within fifty years, perhaps even challenging the rank of Dou Shi!

Soa cultivating Dou Qi for ten years to reach the level of a Third-Rank Fighter—his innate talent was truly staggering. No one doubted his ability to ascend to Dou Shi before the age of thirty.

“Could it be because Chen Feng has awakened, combined with his Innate Dou Spirit Physique, that the Demonic Faction families are wary?” one elder voiced his concern.

When Chen Feng Kaine was born, testing via a secret clan method revealed him to possess the Innate Dou Spirit Physique! Such a physique was a rarity once in a millennium. Legends stated that since the continent’s existence, only the Dou Demon Feng Liao, a thousand years prior, possessed it; none had appeared since. How could Qigu not have been ecstatic when this marvelous fortune appeared in his own son?

One had to remember that Feng Liao achieved heights unattainable by mortals in only twenty years. During the Tianfeng Mountain competition, he single-handedly battled twelve Sixth-Rank Archmages, achieving total victory before soaring away, becoming an eternal legend for future generations.

Qigu Kaine, by nature strong-willed, had once gathered the patriarchs of the three Martial Faction families to flaunt this fact in public. Who knew that Chen Feng turned out to be an imbecile! No matter how he cultivated, he could not sense the slightest change in Dou Qi! This immense reversal of fortune felt like being slapped dozens of times across the face and then spat upon repeatedly, stripping him of all dignity.

This matter became a common joke among others, and the two Demonic Faction families used it as their greatest source of gossip. Thus, this was a primary reason why Qigu Kaine treated his idiot son so poorly.

This matter had always been a festering sore in his heart, and perhaps this is why he could so readily expel Chen Feng from the family—this contributed to the decision.

“You worry too much,” Qigu mused for a moment. “Our Kaine family’s Blazing Dragon Dou Qi dictates that if one lacks Qi sensation by the age of twelve, any subsequent talent will be in vain! Even if Little Five awakens now, having missed the optimal cultivation period, his future achievement will never surpass a Fourth-Rank Fighter at most. He is inconsequential to the entire family!”

“Alas!” Elder Yuqing sighed heavily. “If that accident ten years ago had never happened, perhaps…” He trailed off, sensing the air in the hall turn deathly still. He glanced over and saw the Patriarch’s face was ashen, and immediately clamped his mouth shut, saying no more.

Ten years ago, one night, Chen Feng’s mother suddenly passed away. At just four years old, he became mentally vacant overnight. This event had always been an unspoken secret within the clan; no one mentioned it. Elder Yuqing bringing it up now created an extremely awkward silence.

Just then, a servant rushed into the main hall in a panic.

“Patriarch, Patriarch… This is bad!”

“Insolence!” Qigu roared, the sound shaking the very rafters of the building.

The servant collapsed onto the floor in terror. “I… I…”

Elder Yuqing stepped forward with a gentle tone. “What has happened? Why are you so frantic? Don’t you know noise is forbidden in the Council Hall?”

The messenger, wearing an expression of sheer terror, scrambled to his knees. “This servant deserves death, I know I was wrong! But… Young Master Soa…”

“Soa?” Qigu’s expression subtly shifted upon hearing the name. Soa was the most powerfully gifted among the younger generation in the clan; any misfortune concerning him could absolutely impact the competition two years hence.

“What happened to Soa?” Qigu’s voice carried a thread of genuine tension.

If Chen Feng were present to witness this, he would undoubtedly be even more heartbroken. Both were the Patriarch’s sons, yet the level of concern shown was vastly different—one was dismissed without a frown, while the other elicited immediate worry over an unknown calamity.

The messenger managed to calm his nerves slightly. “Young Master Soa’s right arm is broken. We administered numerous medicines, and even Light Element Magic was attempted, but…”

“But what?” Qigu demanded loudly.

“But from yesterday afternoon until just now, it had no effect. Instead, the arm began to turn black and charred, as if…” At this point, the messenger’s face showed abject horror.

“Speak clearly, stop stammering!” Elder Yuqing couldn’t help but sound anxious himself.

The messenger continued, “The Light Element Mage who was treating him said it seems to be the result of an attack from a high-level Fire Element Magic!”

Qigu sprang to his feet, Dou Qi swirling around his hand. He brought his palm down onto the seat with a thud, causing the chair to explode into splinters: “The Demonic Faction families! I never imagined you were so vicious, fearing Soa might shine in the competition, so you resort to such malicious means…”

Seeing the Patriarch’s rage, the messenger became even more timid and hesitant to speak.

Although Qigu was enraged, he was, after all, the head of a clan. After a moment, he spoke coldly, “How was the Third Young Master ambushed by members of the Demonic Faction yesterday afternoon? And why is this only being reported now?”

The messenger looked utterly confused. “The Third Young Master wasn't injured by members of the Demonic Faction!”

Qigu’s eyes sharpened. “Fire Element Magic damage—if not the Demonic Faction, then who could it be?”

The messenger glanced around. “It was the Fifth Young Master and the Third Young Master… sparring, and the Fifth Young Master injured him!”

“What?” At this moment, everyone’s expression shifted as if flowers had bloomed—utter shock, appearing completely incredulous.

Soa, with his Third-Rank Fighter strength, was the highest among the rising generation, and his cultivated Blazing Dragon Dou Qi was ferociously powerful. How could he have been injured by Chen Feng?

The elders had agreed with Qigu to expel Chen Feng primarily to discard a waste and mollify the wrath of the Demonic Faction families. Now, to hear that this exiled waste was not only not useless but had severely wounded the strongest expert among the younger generation—how could they not be stunned?

Qigu suddenly seemed to realize something. In a flash, his mind replayed the action Chen Feng had performed earlier in the hall, and a bitter smile crossed his face!

At that moment, the outside of the hall grew darker, and the sky began to turn overcast!

A piece of fine jade, cast away just like that…

Qigu felt an overwhelming exhaustion, his heart empty, an indescribable pain consuming him. He leaned back, intending to sit in his chair, but with a loud smash, he tumbled to the ground. The chair, as it turned out, had been pulverized by his earlier fit of rage!

“I… was I wrong… I intended to sacrifice a useless son, but unexpectedly drove away a piece of fine jade…” Patriarch Qigu uttered his final words before collapsing.

The second chapter is here… The new book needs recommendation votes; Old Ya has decided to aim for the New Book Weekly Chart next week. I hope everyone can offer their support…

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