Chapter 55: Rain Immortal

  The Qin family's residence was filled with an extraordinary bustle, immersed in a joyful atmosphere. Almost everyone who met would notice the flying eyebrows and excited expressions on each other's faces, even the two guards standing at the gate of the Qin family looked more spirited than usual, with straight waists and solemn postures.

  The reason is that the Qin family, after many years of silence, finally defeated two arch-enemies in a competition, and Qin Hao, the representative of the young generation of the Qin family, also showed incredible strength. However, Qin Hao's luck seems to be not very good. It is said that he is currently facing an extremely severe predicament...

  Outside the main hall of the Qin family, people had already gathered in circle after circle.

  In the main hall of the Qin family, Qin Hao's hands hung down, his face solemn and respectful. In front of him, his father, the first elder, the second elder, and even the most severe and difficult to deal with "martial fanatic" third elder were all sizing him up with great interest.

  People outside the door were even more discussing and speculating about what consequences Qin Hao would face.

  "Have you mastered all the martial skills? Are your cultivations about to break through?" The Third Elder suddenly looked towards the outside of the door and asked with a serious expression.

  A crowd of people shook their heads simultaneously. The scene of nearly a hundred skulls shaking their heads at the same time was quite spectacular.

  "Get out of here and go practice at the martial arts arena!" A thunderous shout suddenly came from the Third Elder's mouth.

  They scattered like birds and beasts! A group of people vanished in the blink of an eye without a trace.

  Qin Hao felt a bit helpless. After the last time he broke through the tenth level of the Jingxuan realm without telling them and was interrogated, Qin Hao found himself in the same situation again.

  "Break through the tenth layer of Xuanxuan, and reach the realm of Lingxuan?" The Great Elder said in a calm tone: "No need to say, you must not know how to break through, right? It's purely a matter of skill."

  The three elders' faces turned iron-green as they spoke in unison: "I suppose you were going to tell us all along, but simply forgot, weren't you, Qin Hao?"

  Qin Feng continued: "As for the last move you used, the Extreme Staircase Martial Skill, it must have been something you learned by chance after practicing your skills. It has nothing to do with me, right?"

  The three people's words all had an inexplicable and eerie tone.

  Qin Hao's expression changed as he said: "The two elders and father are really formidable, they hit the nail on the head with just one sentence."

  "Rubbish!" Qin Feng slammed his hand on the table, not a hint of his usual calmness. His finger was almost pointing at Qin Hao's nose: "You little brat still want to deceive us with this trick? Last time you said the same thing. Qigong? I just don't believe that qigong can make you execute that martial skill with such momentum."

  Qin Feng's eyes were wide open like a bronze bell, staring motionlessly at Qin Hao. Qin Hao smiled helplessly and stared back into Qin Feng's eyes without any fear.

  "Alright, alright." The second elder, who had a relatively gentle disposition, smiled and said: "Qin Feng, don't scare him anymore. This kid has made significant contributions to the Qin family today. Besides, look at how easily he's intimidated by you?"

  The other two elders smiled at the same time. Qin Feng also shook his head, sat down again, and laughed: "This little rascal really knows how to hide."

  "Qin Hao." The three elders' faces showed a rare warmth: "I heard that you just used an extremely high-level martial skill, and also brought out a fist intent, right?"

  Qin Hao nodded slightly.

  The three elders, who were quite interested, opened their mouths and said: "Can you demonstrate it again for me..."

  The Great Elder interrupted him, saying: "Old Three, now put away your martial fanaticism." Then, with a look of approval, he turned to Qin Hao and said: "Qin Hao, no matter whether your martial skills were gained from Qin Yi's methods or not, you have this ability, which is truly a blessing for my Qin family."

  "That's right." The Second Elder continued, "Your realm has broken through to the Spiritual Mystery Realm, and you can be compared to Qin Yi. Qin Shan and the others have also trained you to make significant progress. Ah! If Qin Yi hadn't gone out to gain experience back then and was still in Tian Lang, I'm sure he would be overjoyed to see that the younger generation of the Qin family has produced such a talented disciple."

  When it came to that talented Qin family member who had gone missing and was likely already dead, the faces of the four people all turned gloomy.

  The three elders adjusted first, and he smiled and said: "Qin Hao, speak up, what reward do you want. You can choose any three skills from the Martial Skills Pavilion that you like."

  This reward is already very generous in the Qin family. The Qin family stipulates that only when one reaches a sufficient boundary can they freely choose martial skills, and only one at a time. Now, however, Qin Hao is allowed to choose three without restriction.

  "Although your current martial skills are already quite powerful. However, practicing a few more wouldn't hurt." The Second Elder said seriously.

  "Qin Hao understands." Qin Hao replied with a solemn expression.

  "Here it is." The elder opened the wooden box, and a scroll of martial arts techniques and a piece of jade stone appeared before everyone: "This extreme-level martial art 'Canglan Break' was won back by you and Qin Shan, Yu Xian, and nine others. According to the rules, it should belong to the eleven of you. However, this extreme-level martial art is extremely important to the Qin family, so we hope that you can contribute it to the family. Each of you can copy one first, and when borrowing in the future, priority will be given to you." The elder said here with a hint of guilt on his face: "It's really because us old guys are incompetent that we have to take things from you young ones."

  Qin Hao replied calmly, "Don't worry, Elder. I'll give it to the family. I think Qin Shan and Qin Ze won't object either. Besides, the Extreme Stage martial skill is too difficult, and if one's cultivation isn't enough, forcing oneself to practice will only harm oneself."

  Qin Feng picked up the crystal jade piece from the box, furrowing his brow and said: "This is the most troublesome thing. The qualification for the Wind Spirit Sect's assessment, who should go?"

  "Does this still need thinking?" Qin Hao smiled and said, "Dad, I've already talked to Lin Yu about it. Half a year later, I'll go find him. Leave this kind of thing to me."

  "Qin Hao, I understand what you mean." The three elders didn't hide the appreciation on their faces: "This opportunity to enter Fengshen Sect may be precious for others, but for a Qin family disciple, entering Fengshen Sect and facing Lin Yu's absolute power right away is not an easy thing."

  Qin Feng's expression softened a lot, and he burst out laughing: "Good, you're indeed my son Qin Hao." He tossed the jade piece in his hand over to Qin Hao, who stretched out his hand to catch it and put it away in his bosom.

  Father and son exchanged a glance, and then they both smiled silently at each other.

  "Next, you go practice by yourself. Also remember, three days later, the matter of hunting and killing demonic beasts in Blue Cliff Ridge must be well prepared for. Although there is Old Man Chen's Black Guard, nothing will happen. But recently, the number of ferocious demonic beasts in Blue Cliff Ridge has increased a lot, so you should be careful." Qin Feng once again solemnly instructed Qin Hao.

  Qin Hao knew that several elders had left first. Qin Hao bowed to the crowd and then walked out of the hall.

  As he walked out of the training stone chamber after the martial performance, Qin Hao touched his brow, and his mind had been thinking about one thing all along, which was the iron-line python that ambushed him that day.

  Although the Iron Wire Python is only a second-order demon beast, it is extremely rare in the Blue Quiet Forest. More importantly, this demon beast has a habit of hiding in the dark and humid depths of the forest, so how did it suddenly appear on the outer layer? What's even more puzzling is that the Iron Wire Python was injured, and it should be impossible for any other demon beast to injure a second-order primary demon beast in the Blue Quiet Forest.

  Thinking of this, Qin Hao's mind became increasingly suspicious. Had something changed in the quiet forest?

  As he mentioned the Azure Quiet Forest, Qin Hao suddenly thought of that fatty again and couldn't help but smile. Qin Hao stretched out his left hand, looking at the storage ring on his finger, gently stroking the crystal-clear and warm Taixu Crystal Stone on the ring. He remembered that fatty telling him that although there were no rare martial skills or powerful techniques hidden in the ring, it did contain many precious books, recording many secrets.

  Qin Hao's interest suddenly increased. During this period, he was busy and forgot about the existence of this ring. Now that he had time, he really wanted to take a look at what was inside.

  As he thought so, Qin Hao's pace quickened and his speed increased significantly.

  As he passed by the martial arts arena, his eyes quickly scanned and found that many Qin family disciples were practicing. Even Qin Ze and Qin Chao, who had just finished their trial, did not show any signs of relaxation, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.

  Suddenly, a strange feeling surged up in Qin Hao's heart, as if a pair of eyes was peeping at him. A sense of vigilance arose in his mind, and he looked around, but found nothing out of the ordinary.

  Qin Hao looked around suspiciously again, but still didn't find anything. He didn't think much of it and quickened his pace towards the stone room.

  Qin Yuxian sat behind a bluestone, her legs together, her chin resting on her knees. Her bright eyes stared straight in Qin Hao's direction, with a complex and inexplicable look in them.

  She stretched out her left hand, revealing the white wrist with a seven-color silk rope on it. The rope was made of seven-colored silk threads and looked somewhat old, some places had already faded in color, but it was one of the few ornaments that could be found on Qin Yuxian's body.

  "I didn't expect you to grow up to this point so quickly." Qin Yuxian stared blankly at the silk rope on Rong Yu's wrist, her eyes dazed: "It seems that all I can do for you is just these things over the years. Soon, you won't need me anymore."

  "It's fine, really fine." Qin Yuxian hugged her legs with both hands, burying her face in her knees, muttering to herself. Her soft voice trembled slightly, and the joints of her jade-like fingers were clenched white.

  Closing her eyes, in a daze, the scene reappeared in her mind: after the rain, on the muddy ground, a boy slightly taller than her had a smile on his face and ran towards him. He ran so fast that mud splashed everywhere, and the white clothes were stained with dirt, but he didn't care, running faster and happier.

  "My name is Qin Hao? What's your name?"

  "I don't know."

  "How can someone not know their own name?"

  "Rain Fairy, I saw you in the rain, from now on you'll be called Rain Fairy."

  ……

  Those memories that were thought to be forgotten suddenly emerged from Qin Yuxian's heart without warning, replaying scene by scene in front of her eyes, complete, clear, and never blurry.

  It turned out that all these years, she never forgot either.

  Qin Yuxian raised her head, and on her beautiful face, there were already tears welling up in her eyes.