Chapter 35: Advancing to Mysterious Rank Fourth Tier!
Chapter 35: Advancing to Mysterious Rank Fourth Tier!
Qin Xue gasped in surprise, staring wide-eyed at Watermelon. Her delicate little finger pointed at her own nose, and she said, “Become my disciple?”
“Yes, sister! Please take me as your disciple! I found out you’re an important person from the Qin Family, I beg you!” Perhaps driven by some spirit, or maybe because the Healing Pill had taken effect, Watermelon looked very determined.
“Qin Xue, take him in,” Qin Li suddenly said from the side.
Before Qin Xue could reply, Watermelon knocked his head on the ground three times with a thud. When he lifted his head again, his forehead was bright red.
Qin Xue stood there, flustered and unsure what to do. Qin Li chuckled and said, “Little Watermelon, remember from now on to call me Martial Uncle!”
Watermelon rolled his eyes, then collapsed unconscious to the ground. Only then did Watermelon’s parents react, quickly rushing over to carry Watermelon into the house. Watermelon’s father was a simple, honest farmer who didn’t know how to thank Qin Li and Qin Xue properly.
Qin Li waved his hand and asked Qin Xue, “Do you still have silver?”
Qin Xue took a small piece of silver, about one tael, from her bosom and handed it to Watermelon’s father. She said softly, “Quickly go find a doctor to check on Watermelon.”
“You saved Watermelon, how could we dare take your money…” Watermelon’s father stammered.
“Giggle, didn’t you see Watermelon has become my disciple? When a disciple is in trouble, of course the master must take care of it. Alright, take it. When Watermelon feels better, have him come find me!” Qin Xue said with a laugh, then bid farewell and left with Qin Li.
On the way back, Qin Li told Qin Xue about Watermelon practicing the Only I Dominate Technique. Then he said, “Qin Xue, pass on the Qin Family’s Single Origin Cultivation Method to Watermelon. This kid doesn’t know the danger, daring to practice this technique. I originally wanted to ask him about it, but now it seems unnecessary. The miracle that happened to me definitely won’t happen to him.”
Qin Xue smiled charmingly and said, “If everyone were like you, Young Master, could this technique still be given away for free?”
Qin Li scratched his head and said, “That’s true.”
“But, Young Master, why did you want me to take in Watermelon?” In Qin Xue’s heart, she was only loyal to Qin Li and Qin Hanyue. Towards others, even if she cared, there was no need to get too deeply involved. She had a good impression of the child Watermelon, but that didn’t mean she had to take him as a disciple.
“Our family’s strength is too weak!” Qin Li said quietly. “There’s a group in the Qin Family always watching me, wanting revenge. The Shangguan Family isn’t truly reliable either. What we can rely on is only ourselves, only ourselves!”
Qin Xue nodded, understanding Qin Li’s meaning. She said gently, “Qin Xue understands. Watermelon is indeed a good child; I hope he can achieve something!”
…
In the morning, Qin Hanyue, Qin Xue, and Qin Li together rented a carriage and stopped at the gate of Huangsha City’s Apex Academy. A woman in her thirties was already waiting there. When she saw Qin Hanyue, her eyes reddened, and tears immediately fell as she tightly embraced Qin Hanyue.
“Little Yue, you finally agreed to come out and see people. All these years, every time I went to your house, I was turned away.”
“Let’s not mention the past. Come, let me introduce you. This is my son, Qin Li! This is my family’s maid, Qin Xue!”
The woman lifted her head, her eyes tearful, and looked at Qin Li with emotion. “In the blink of an eye, your child is already so big!”
Qin Hanyue’s eyes were also red. She said to Qin Li, “This is your Aunt Xie, Mommy’s best friend!”
“Hello!” Qin Li bowed slightly to the woman. He called Qin Hanyue ‘Mother’ because of blood ties and a deep-seated attachment in his soul, but others… Qin Li couldn’t really bring himself to use such intimate terms.
Fortunately, the woman named Xie was busy catching up with Qin Hanyue and didn’t pay attention to Qin Li’s form of address. The four of them went directly into the depths of the academy.
The testing area wasn’t very big. It was quiet inside, with almost no people. The woman named Xie seemed quite authoritative, leading them straight in.
“I heard Xiao Li just reached the first rank? Ah, you’re too stubborn. Many times when I went to see you, I brought Combat Techniques and Cultivation Methods. Although they weren’t anything great, they’re better than nothing!” The woman named Xie said somewhat reproachfully to Qin Hanyue. “This time, you must not refuse again. Child, use all your strength to attack this thing!”
Qin Li saw the red stone-like object embedded in the wall. He didn’t know exactly how this thing tested strength. Using about eighty percent of his power, he punched towards the red center.
Boom!
A loud noise echoed.
The woman named Xie, who was talking to Qin Hanyue, immediately froze. Then she saw a burst of blue light flash fiercely on the red stone. Immediately after, a cool, mechanical voice sounded in the room.
“Mysterious Rank, Fourth Tier.”
“Ah?” All four people in the room stood there stunned.
Qin Li wasn’t surprised that he had the strength of Mysterious Rank Fourth Tier. In his previous life, he was an expert, and after personally experiencing the suffocating pressure from someone like Qin Shisan, Qin Li really didn’t think Mysterious Rank Martial Artists were anything to be proud of. What surprised him was this testing device; why did it seem like some kind of high-tech product?
The other three were all shocked by Qin Li’s true strength. The woman named Xie’s mouth twitched several times. Her eyes shining, she looked at Qin Hanyue, took her hand, and said, “Little Yue, you! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Heavens… He, how old is he this year?”
Qin Hanyue was also stunned. Although she always felt her son was the most outstanding man in the world, that was just motherly love. Regarding Qin Li’s strength, she was very clear. How in just a few days did he jump from Yellow Rank First Tier to Mysterious Rank Fourth Tier? Even if the Only I Dominate Technique was unique, this speed… was just too fast!
Facing her best friend’s question, Qin Hanyue instinctively said, “Thirteen years old!”
“Heavens, we’ve found a treasure, found a treasure!” The woman named Xie looked extremely excited. “Little Yue, you must send your son to study here. He’s a super genius! Thirteen years old, oh my! Your Qin Family’s Qin Feng, when he was thirteen, only had fifth tier strength, right? Your son is no weaker, if not stronger, than that Qin Feng!”
Qin Hanyue’s mind went blank, only thinking: My son is actually more outstanding than Qin Feng! My son is actually so outstanding!
What the woman named Xie said was correct; Qin Feng was indeed a genius. But what was Qin Feng’s cultivation environment? Since childhood, he used the best of everything, including various Alchemical Pills that could boost strength! And what was Qin Li’s environment? He hadn’t even learned Combat Techniques or Cultivation Methods.
If he wasn’t a genius, then who was?
Watching his mother frozen in shock and the teacher Xie dancing with joy, Qin Li quietly asked Qin Xue, “What’s the deal with this thing that tests strength? How is it so amazing?”
Qin Xue was stumped by Qin Li’s question. After thinking for a long time, she said, “Huh? … This, it’s existed since ancient times… I don’t know where it came from either. No one has ever asked about this!”
Qin Li was taken aback, then gave a wry smile. It seemed each world had its own way of development. Any aspect, developed to its extreme, could not be ignored!
Just like the Qin Family’s bright and luxurious crystal chandelier; didn’t it also use some kind of crystal he’d never seen as power source!
Thinking this, Qin Li decided not to ponder this question anymore. What exists is reasonable. Seeing that his mother was somewhat tempted by Teacher Xie’s suggestion, Qin Li quickly said, “Mother, tomorrow I’m going on an adventure with the team. I won’t attend the academy.”
Qin Hanyue thought for a moment and also felt that there really was no need for her son to enter the academy now. What needed to be taught to him, she had already taught him long ago. What he wanted to learn now was no longer something the academy could provide! Thinking this, Qin Hanyue politely declined her friend’s offer and begged her to keep it secret. Under her friend’s regretful and somewhat resentful expression, the three of them left Apex Academy in high spirits.