The sun was blazing hot, and it was midday.
The asphalt road was scorching hot, and a faint heat wave filled the air, distorting the view in the distance.
A black SUV was driving smoothly along a somewhat secluded suburban road. The road was sparsely populated, and on both sides were some old roadside trees with lush foliage that cast dappled shadows.
Inside the car, the air conditioning provided a cool breeze, a stark contrast to the sweltering heat outside.
Qin Yang was driving, his expression focused, his gaze fixed straight ahead. In the passenger seat, Shangguan Wan was looking out the window at the fleeting scenery, a faint smile playing on her lips, seemingly in a good mood.
Suddenly.
"squeak--"
A not-so-sharp, but rather abrupt, screech of brakes rang out, and the SUV came to a steady stop on the side of the road.
The inertia caused Shangguan Wan to lean forward slightly. She turned her head with some confusion and looked at Qin Yang, her clear eyes filled with a hint of bewilderment.
"What's wrong, Qin Yang? Is there something wrong with the car?" she asked softly, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.
Qin Yang did not answer immediately; his gaze was already fixed on a figure under the shade of a tree by the roadside not far ahead.
It was an old man.
An old man with white hair and beard, wearing a gray retro long gown.
He stood there quietly, as if he had been waiting for a long time, or as if he had appeared out of thin air. He seemed somewhat out of place with his surroundings, yet strangely blended into them.
Despite being some distance away, Qin Yang could clearly sense a faint yet incredibly powerful and profound aura emanating from the old man.
That aura carried the weight of time, and also a kind of indifference that looked down upon all living beings.
They came for me.
Qin Yang instantly understood.
He withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Shangguan Wan beside him, and a gentle smile appeared on his face, as if the solemnity from before had never existed.
"It's alright, it's not a car problem." Qin Yang's voice was calm and gentle, carrying a reassuring power. "We ran into someone up ahead... well, I guess they were asking for directions. You stay in the car, lock the doors, and don't get out, okay? I'll go down and take care of it, I'll be right back."
His tone was relaxed, but the seriousness in his eyes made Shangguan Wan realize that things were probably not as simple as he made them out to be.
Shangguan Wan was incredibly intelligent. From the fleeting change in Qin Yang's eyes and the uniquely charismatic old man in front of her, she sensed something unusual.
She understood Qin Yang and knew he didn't want her to worry.
"Then... be careful." Shangguan Wan pursed her lips, not asking any further questions, but only gently reminding him, though deep in her eyes, the worry lingered.
She knew that someone who could make Qin Yang take things so seriously, even specifically instructing her not to get out of the car, was definitely not a simple person.
"Don't worry." Qin Yang smiled and nodded, gently ruffled Shangguan Wan's hair, then pushed open the car door and got out.
"Bang."
The car door was gently closed.
Qin Yang stood beside the car, took a deep breath, and felt the heat wave rushing towards him, as well as the increasingly clear and oppressive aura of a powerful figure.
He straightened his collar, the gentle smile on his face gradually fading, replaced by a calm and still expression, his deep eyes remaining completely undisturbed.
Then, he started walking slowly towards the old man under the shade of the tree ahead.
One step, two steps...
His steps were steady, each step as precise as if it had been measured, without the slightest hesitation or fear.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on him.
As the distance closed, Sun Wu Hui's wrinkled face, resembling the bark of an old tree, became increasingly clear.
Those seemingly cloudy eyes, which actually held a sharp inner light, were staring intently at Qin Yang, as if trying to see right through him.
Qin Yang stopped and stood about ten meters away from Sun Wu Hui.
This is a relatively safe distance, but also a distance that can be closed instantly once action is taken.
Neither of them spoke first, and the air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Only the gentle breeze rustling through the leaves and the faint chirping of cicadas in the distance could be heard.
Sun Wu Hui's gaze swept over Qin Yang as if it were a physical object.
Young, too young.
The bone age is indeed no more than twenty-five years old.
However, the aura that subtly emanated from him... though restrained, carried a sense of perfect harmony and a profound connection to the universe.
Holy Land!
A truly sacred place!
Sun Wu Hui has lived for nearly two hundred years and has seen countless geniuses, but he has never heard of or seen anyone like Qin Yang who has reached such a level at such a young age!
The intelligence was indeed correct!
Sun Wu Hui's heart stirred slightly. What was originally a judgment based on intelligence was now being impacted even more strongly by what he had seen with his own eyes.
That hidden greed and desire deep in his heart grew wildly like weeds.
Sure enough, this boy must possess an earth-shattering secret!
If I could obtain...
Thinking of this, a barely suppressed burning passion flashed deep within Sun Wu Hui's originally calm eyes.
He slowly raised his chin, his posture extremely arrogant, as if looking down at an ant, and spoke in a matter-of-fact, even condescending tone.
The voice was old, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"You are Qin Yang?"
His tone was calm, yet it carried the air of a superior, as if it were an honor for Qin Yang to be called by his name.
Qin Yang did not answer, but just looked at him quietly, his eyes as calm as a deep pool of water.
Sun Wu Hui seemed unconcerned about Qin Yang's response. He waited two seconds, then continued speaking to himself, his tone filled with condescending arrogance:
"I, Sun Wuhui, have no regrets."
He gave his name, seemingly believing that the name itself was enough to intimidate the young man before him.
“Tell me the secret to how you were able to break through to the Saint Realm at such a young age.”
"Then, come back to the Sun family with me, go see Sun Yu, kowtow to him three times, admit your mistake, and beg for his forgiveness."
Sun Wu Hui paused slightly at this point, glancing at Qin Yang with his cloudy eyes as if assessing the value of an item.
"Considering that your talent is passable, as long as you obediently do as I say, I can spare your life today."
His words were full of a condescending tone.
It was as if making Qin Yang hand over the secret, kowtow to Sun Yu and apologize, and in the end save his life, would be an immense blessing.
He didn't treat Qin Yang as an equal at all.
In his view, how could a mere lad in his twenties, even if he had managed to enter the Saint Realm by chance, compare to him, a powerful Saint Realm expert who had lived for nearly two hundred years and accumulated profound experience?
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