Everyone was angry at Qin Taiming's behavior but dared not speak out.

The secret realm is unclaimed. You can challenge it, fine, but couldn't you at least give me a heads-up when you knew danger was imminent?

It hasn't been easy for anyone to reach this point in their cultivation journey, so why can't you have even a shred of compassion?

With your ruthlessness, how can we expect you to protect humanity when a conflict truly breaks out with the demon race?

The disciples of Tianyuan Sect, in particular, felt utterly desperate. This was an elder of their sect! Someone they had admired since childhood—the Great Sword Master!

But Qin Taiming didn't care about any of that. He pursued the Great Dao, which was inherently ruthless. What did the lives and deaths of these people have to do with him?

Only Qin Xiuyang could move him even slightly, after all, he was the one who would inherit his mantle and continue his title of Sword Master in the future.

Qin Xiuyang didn't slack off for a moment. He had been provoked by Song Luo. How could a bastard like Song Luo be stronger than him?

"Not bad." Qin Taiming rarely praised him. "You have made great progress recently. This is what a disciple of the Venerable One should be like."

"Master, your disciple will certainly live up to your expectations." Qin Xiuyang was very respectful, and then, under Qin Taiming's arrangement, he went to challenge a level that was far more difficult than his cultivation level.

If Song Xia knew about this, she would probably lament that things had completely changed.

In his memory, Qin Xiuyang at this time was no longer very obedient to Qin Taiming, and he himself had many secrets that he could not reveal.

Relying on his strong luck, he firmly believed that he would be able to ascend to immortality.

But now, he clung tightly to Qin Taiming, as if afraid of being abandoned by him. He had lost his confidence and no longer firmly believed in his ability to ascend.

How can someone who doubts even himself achieve the Great Way?

On the contrary, Song Luo not only fought steadily, but also showed no fear even towards Qin Taiming, who had the highest cultivation level. Ultimately, that battle completely affected the two of them.

Time flies, and another half year has passed. Qin Xiuyang left the secret realm because he was about to undergo a tribulation, a tribulation to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

"Qin Chi, I don't believe you can catch up with me."

Over the past six months, he has endured hardships that ordinary people cannot bear to reach his current level. The only reason that sustains him is to defeat Song Luo.

"ah!"

During the test of his mind, Qin Xiuyang howled in pain, a stark contrast to his previous easy advancements, indicating the emergence of inner demons.

Qin Taiming watched coldly, then turned and left.

Because he himself also has inner demons, he is all too aware of Qin Xiuyang's current situation. He has already developed inner demons at the very beginning of his evolution into a god, and his path to further advancement will only become more difficult.

Previously, we were hoping that Qin Xiuyang would attain enlightenment, but now it seems unlikely.

“Master…” Looking at Qin Taiming’s indifferent back, Qin Xiuyang felt a pang of pain in his heart. It wasn’t because he had any deep feelings for Qin Taiming, but because he was beginning to realize that his master might not be as dedicated to nurturing him as before.

He then thought of Qin Chi. If his master knew Qin Chi's current cultivation level, he feared that Qin Chi would completely abandon him.

No, he must defeat Qin Chi.

Qin Xiuyang gritted his teeth inwardly. His inner demons came from Qin Chi. As long as Qin Chi died, all the problems would be solved.

"You little bastard, where are you...?"

He entered the secret realm and immediately began searching for Song Luo's whereabouts.

He first went to the place where they had their first duel, but couldn't find them, so he started cursing: "You little bastard, you coward, where are you hiding?"

Little did he know that Song Luo had only recently advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. He had a meal with Song Xia in Sunset Forest and entered Sunset Forest a step later than him.

"Wu Xing, are you ready?" Song Luo was full of fighting spirit, ready to start his new round of challenges.

"Of course." The little wolf cub was also in high spirits, letting out a howl to announce its return to the ferocious beasts within the secret realm.

"So this is where it is." Qin Xiuyang sneered and quickly headed in their direction.

Song Luo frowned slightly: "There's a murderous aura about it."

The wolf cub sniffed the air, its tone grave: "Be careful."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp sword wind rushed towards Song Luo. He barely managed to dodge it, and the ground where he had just stood cracked open, creating a ravine nearly three zhang deep.

"Qin Chi, prepare to die."

Song Luo was also furious. Sensing Qin Xiuyang's current cultivation level, she raised her sword to meet him: "I told you, my name is Song Luo! Today I will beat you until you get it right."

"Ha, do you have that ability?"

After their exchange, Qin Xiuyang also learned about Song Luo's cultivation level. However, he was very confident. He had lost last time because Song Luo had poison in his body and his cultivation level was one level lower. But this time would be different.

“You were born a disgrace to your master; you only deserve this name.”

Song Luo smiled and said, "Qin Xiuyang, you're panicking. What are you afraid of? Do you want to use a name to prove that I will never be as good as you? I'm glad you think that way. That just proves that I have really surpassed you."

"You're talking nonsense."

"Oh, you're really in a hurry."

Qin Xiuyang was so angry that his eyes turned bloodshot, as if he had been possessed by a demon. His moves became increasingly vicious, completely unlike his previous grand, neat and clean style.

His mind was in turmoil. Song Luo shook his head. After this battle, there was no need to keep Qin Xiuyang in mind anymore.

The more nonchalant he seemed, the angrier Qin Xiuyang became. Why should he look down on him? He was just a bastard.

"Song Luo, die!"

It must be said that his current combat power is quite strong, and the commotion attracted the attention of nearby cultivators.

"It's Qin Xiuyang. Who's the other one?"

"The son of Boss Song of the Song Family Trading Company."

"Why is his sword green?"

"It's not surprising that their family owns such a large business, so they might have some special materials."

"What deep-seated hatred do they have? Qin Xiuyang's moves are all deadly."

"Who knows? But they actually managed to tie? Song Luo is amazing! His talent is comparable to Qin Xiuyang's. Who will be the number one genius of our Qingyang Continent in the future?"

"Am I the only one wondering why Qin Xiuyang's demeanor seems different than before?"

"I've also noticed that his current fighting style doesn't seem like that of a disciple of our righteous path."

Hearing the crowd's discussions, Qin Xiuyang grew increasingly angry. Therefore, when fighting Song Luo, he didn't care about the distance between them at all. His sword swept across, injuring several people in succession.

Upon seeing this, Song Luo shook his head and then retreated, moving the battlefield to the other side.

This incident further fueled the slander against Qin Xiuyang, with many even stating that he was inferior to Song Luo.

Qin Xiuyang gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. He would show these people who the real number one genius was!

"Qin Chi, prepare to die!"

Upon hearing this address, the Tianyuan Sect disciples who had come to watch the spectacle were dumbfounded. What had they just heard? Qin Chi? Song Luo was Qin Chi? How could that be?

Qin Chi is only a half-demon. You should know that most half-demons stop at the Qi Refining stage. Even those who can enter the Foundation Establishment stage cannot cultivate the Golden Core. But Song Luo in front of us is a real Nascent Soul stage cultivator!