Endless Ascension

Chapter 8: The Beginning of Revenge

When ambition sets in, one can become formidable, altering their behavior and demeanor.

Qin Ze harbored ambition, a colossal one.

He etched every instance of humiliation, ridicule, and scorn into his heart, vowing to repay them in full the moment he seized an opportunity.

He intended to leave them with no chance of redemption, and he believed that day was imminent.

Qin Family Training Grounds.

Since dawn, the place had been abuzz with activity. Qin Family's outer disciples and inner disciples, numbering in the thousands, gathered here, the younger generation eagerly awaiting the day's events.

Today marked a significant occasion for the Qin Family, and likewise, for Qinghe City. Other clans paid close attention, for this was a prime opportunity to gauge their rivals.

The four major clans of Qinghe City had been vying for supremacy for years, each striving to outdo the other three. The Qin Family's control over the entrance to the Kunlun Mountains was a coveted prize, a juicy morsel that all sought to divide.

The vast training grounds were filled with Qin Family's youthful members, their chatter echoing through the air as they debated who would emerge victorious in the Autumn Hunt.

At this moment, two figures entered the training grounds.

One was thin and the other stout, their strides leisurely and unconcerned, as if the commotion surrounding them were merely a faint, distant buzz, barely worthy of their attention. They walked with a sense of ease, unaffected by the chaos that swirled around them.Qin Ze's lips curled into a cold smile as he surveyed the astonished gazes around him.

His smirk exuded confidence, disdain, and an air of supremacy, as if he were the sovereign of all, his word the law of life and death.

Yet, his smile provoked nothing but disdain, derision, and mocking laughter from the crowd.

"What's the Qin Family's great waste doing here?"

"Wasn't he expelled by the Elder?"

"A mere servant at the Hibiscus Tavern, a lowly plebeian. What right does he have to enter the Qin Family's training grounds?"

"Get out of here! This is no place for trash like you."

...

Qin Ze's face remained calm, his smile broadening as he gazed at the scorn etched on the faces of those around him, filled with utter disdain.

Meng Lei followed closely behind Qin Ze, resembling a mighty general guarding his king, his imposing figure stamping heavily with each step, like a wild elephant in full gallop, exuding an overwhelming aura...

As the morning dawned, Qin Ze didn't pick up his broom as usual to sweep the courtyard. Instead, he had Meng Lei wash up, for today was their big day.

Though Meng Lei was naive, he knew that it was the day of Qin Family's Autumn Hunt, the moment when Qin Ze would stun the entire Qin Family.

Ignoring Zhang Dafu's furious curses, the two made their way to the Qin Family's training grounds.

Meng Lei had unwavering faith in Qin Ze, especially after his recovery from his illness.

Whatever Qin Ze decided to do, he would fully support him, asking no questions.

He was convinced that today would indeed be a good day.

Approaching the registration desk, Qin Ze spoke softly, "I would like to sign up for the Autumn Hunt Competition."

The one in charge of the registration, Qin Xiangnan, an honorary elder of the Qin Family with little actual power and responsible for minor affairs, knew a little about Qin Ze. Perhaps out of concern, his tone was mild as he said, "You're only at the first level of martial arts. Don't get in the way. The upcoming test will only invite more ridicule. Go back."

Before Qin Ze could respond, a commotion arose from the crowd. Qin Kun, the little tyrant of the Qin Family, strode forward with a sneer, accompanied by his loyal followers, all above the fifth level of martial arts.

"Well, well, the little servant from Hibiscus Tavern is signing up for the Autumn Hunt Competition too."

"Ha-ha..."

Circling Qin Ze, Qin Kun couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You, participating in the Autumn Hunt Competition? Are you going in to die, or are you just going in to die again?"

His words provoked an uproar of exaggerated laughter from the crowd.

Everyone knew that Qin Ze's dantian was damaged, preventing him from condensing qi, let alone reaching the fifth level of martial arts. With his frail body, entering the Kunlun Mountains was nothing short of suicidal.

Qin Kun's words didn't provoke Qin Ze, but they enraged Meng Lei.

In an instant, he disregarded the rule against private fights on the training grounds and unleashed a fierce punch...

Qin Ze tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Qin Kun's eyes widened in anger, and he roared, "Looking for death!"

Instantly, his body transformed, and he lashed out with a palm strike aimed at Meng Lei's abdomen, much faster than Meng Lei's punch.

"Bang..."

Meng Lei's hefty two-hundred-pound body was sent flying by Qin Kun's palm strike, crashing to the ground several meters away.

Meng Lei grimaced in pain but refused to give up. He surged back to his feet, his fists blurring into a flurry of shadows as his qi power surged, charging forward like a bulldozer...

"Presumptuous!"

Qin Kun sneered in disdain, causing dust to kick up from his feet and swirl wildly. An intense aura emanated from him, fiercely pushing back those nearby.

Qin Ze's heart sank, "This is bad."

Meng Lei was only at the third level of martial arts, no match for Qin Kun, who was at the peak of the seventh level. Judging by the qi power emanating from Qin Kun, he meant to kill.

Starting a fight on the training grounds was breaking the rules, and even death wouldn't grant justice.

Swiftly, Qin Ze stepped forward, his qi power exploding like a flood of dragon and elephant strength. With a blur of movement, he caught Meng Lei's charging form in mid-air.

"Fatty, calm down."

"Young Master, I can't stand it."

"I've got this."

Seeing Qin Ze restrain Meng Lei, Qin Kun's anger simmered, his eyes turning ferocious. He didn't slow down, instead attacking Qin Ze's back.

With his back to Qin Kun, Qin Ze felt the deadly gust of wind approaching. He smirked, thinking, "I knew you'd do this."

Whoever starts the fight, death is their just desserts, and even the clan leader couldn't condemn them.

As the Dragon and Elephant Void Scripture silently activated within him, Qin Ze's body surged with a myriad of forces, every fiber of his being filled with immense power. He slowly turned his head, staring at Qin Kun with a ferocious grin, like a god of death.

Qin Kun's heart skipped a beat at that gaze, which sent shivers down his spine, but he roared in fury, unleashing all his strength.

"Hungry Tiger Escapes Its Cage!"

The air was rent by the roar of a hungry tiger, its fury tearing through the atmosphere.

The crowd gasped in disbelief, mocking Qin Ze who seemed frozen in fear.

"A waste is still a waste, too scared to even move."

"He's doomed now."

Little did they know that in the realm where speed transcends the limits of human perception, Qin Ze had already moved, his movements so swift they deceived even the keenest eyes.

After two months of cultivating the Dragon and Elephant Void Scripture, Qin Ze's reflexes had surpassed those of ordinary people by threefold, and his speed was even more astounding, all this achieved at the first level of mastery.

One could only imagine the terror that would ensue if he reached the pinnacle of this technique.

"Boom!"

A cloud of dust enveloped the clearing, obscuring everything from view. The crowd, unable to see through the chaos, assumed Qin Ze's fate was sealed.

How could a martial artist at the first level possibly stand against one at the peak of the seventh level?

It was unthinkable.

Qin Ze retracted his internal energy, and the dust immediately dispersed, revealing Qin Kun with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Qin Ze. His abdomen was deeply concave, evidence of a devastating blow.

"Plop!"

Qin Kun's legs gave way, and he knelt before Qin Ze, his eyes vacant and lifeless.