Xuanwu War Sovereign

"Qin Gang?" Qin Feng’s gaze swept over the taciturn, iron-tower-like man. The giant had been silent ever since he arrived, only staring at him with wide eyes. After a moment, Qin Feng smiled faintly. "Qin Gang, why do you want to follow me? You’re an elite of the Qin Family’s Law Enforcement Hall with considerable status. You’d be greatly valued no matter which Young Master you chose to serve. Why pledge yourself to me, the Qin Family’s rebel?"

The iron-tower-like man fell silent for a moment before lifting his head. In the darkness, his eyes seemed to flash with an unusual light. He spoke in a deep, powerful voice, "Ninth Young Master, you are a true expert. I, Qin Gang, only submit to the strong. My brother, Qin Shou, said you are also a Mystic Master. I want to become stronger, so I must follow you!"

Qin Feng chuckled. "Isn’t Lao Qi, Qin Fang, an expert? He’s hailed as the Revival Lord of the Qin Family, its star of the future. Why don’t you follow him?"

Qin Gang shook his head. "Qin Fang may be strong, but he only knows how to attack from the shadows. While such a person might find some success, he’ll always be confined to his own little corner. He could never become a Flood Dragon in the heavens! At best, he’s a tiger in the forest. You and Young Master Qin Fang are as different as heaven and earth!"

Qin Feng watched the towering man with amusement and chuckled. "You’re the first person to ever assess Qin Fang that way. Everyone I’ve met, whether from the Qin Family or not, always praises him or speaks his name with caution and respect. But when my name, Qin Feng, comes up, they either sneer, look down on me with contempt, or ignore me completely!"

Nearby, a faint blush flickered across Yu Yao’s otherwise expressionless face.

Qin Gang shook his head, a grim sneer flashing across his dark features. "The world is simply full of blind fools!"

Qin Feng was taken aback for a second before bursting into laughter. "Well said!" After a moment, he continued, "Follow me from now on. You’ll get your wish. As long as you are loyal to me, you will receive everything you desire!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Yao lifted her head, a veiled trace of contempt and disdain flickering in her bewitching eyes.

’You, Qin Feng, are only at the Martial Arts Fourth Layer Heaven. What right do you have to make such guarantees!’

’But what did he mean just now when he said Qin Feng is a Mystic Master?’ Yu Yao’s expression was conflicted. She instinctively refused to believe it, yet a sliver of doubt couldn’t help but sprout in her heart.

Qin Feng studied Qin Gang, then suddenly asked, "What kind of constitution do you have? Have you determined your personal attributes? What cultivation technique are you practicing?"

Qin Gang froze, hesitating for a moment. A martial artist’s cultivation technique was their greatest secret, one they would never reveal to anyone but their most trusted confidants. The next moment, however, he raised his head and said, "Young Master, I have had my constitution tested. I have the Five Elements Geng Metal Constitution. The technique I cultivate is the Geng Metal Vein Breaking Technique, a Mid-Tier Human Martial Level Secret Technique from the Qin Family’s Scripture Pavilion."

"A Geng Metal Constitution, one of the Metal Attribute types!" Qin Feng mused. A moment later, he smiled at Qin Gang. "However, this Human Martial Level Technique is far too low-grade; it has virtually no potential. If you keep cultivating it, you’ll never be able to break through to the Condensing Vein Realm in this lifetime. Come here and listen closely. I have a Metal Attribute cultivation technique for you, the White Tiger Divine Forging Technique. This is a High-Tier Spirit Martial Level Technique. By cultivating it, you’ll have at least a thirty percent chance of forming a Metal Attribute White Tiger Seed. Now, listen..."

The verses of a short cultivation technique flowed steadily from Qin Feng’s mouth. At first, Qin Gang was skeptical, listening with an air of doubt. After all, a high-level technique was the very foundation of a noble family or sect’s power, not something so easily obtained. To his knowledge, even the Qin Family, which had been established in Mountain and River Town for hundreds of years, only possessed a single Mid-Tier Spirit Martial Level Secret Technique, the Nine Xun Wind Roar Technique.

For Qin Feng to claim he was about to impart a High-Tier Spirit Martial Level Secret Technique was simply astounding! Standing nearby, Qin Shou and Yu Yao were utterly incredulous.

Qin Gang listened with a healthy dose of skepticism. Though doubtful, he still memorized every verse Qin Feng recited. But as he continued to listen, his brow furrowed in concentration, soon replaced by a look of sheer ecstasy.

’These verses... they’re definitely from a Secret Technique at the Spirit Martial Level or even higher!’

The cultivation technique Qin Feng imparted was profound and esoteric. At first, it seemed incomprehensible, but slowly, Qin Gang felt the Inner Breath in his body begin to stir. As he mentally circulated his Inner Breath according to the verses, it flowed more than twice as fast as usual. The technique was even causing his realm at the Peak of Martial Arts Fourth Layer Heaven to show signs of loosening. He had a feeling that with just a few days of secluded cultivation, he could break through to the Martial Arts Fifth Layer Heaven!

When Qin Feng finished reciting the final verse, Qin Gang’s expression became solemn. He reigned in his ecstatic look, straightened his robes, and then, under the shocked and incredulous gazes of Qin Shou and Yu Yao, he prostrated himself before Qin Feng in a deep, formal bow.

"Thank you, Young Master, for the grace of imparting this technique! For this gift, I, Qin Gang, and my descendants for all generations to come, will be eternally grateful!"

His words struck like a thunderclap, leaving Qin Shou and Yu Yao completely stunned. It was real. It was truly a High-Tier Spirit Martial Level Secret Technique! Once the initial shock passed, their eyes began to burn with feverish desire.

A high-level technique could save a cultivator countless years of effort! It was the very foundation upon which a noble family or sect’s prosperity was built!

’That lucky bastard... The Young Master actually gave him a High-Tier Spirit Martial Level Secret Technique! Talk about dumb luck!’ Qin Shou stared at Qin Gang, the envy written all over his face. Even though the beneficiary was his own good brother, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

A High-Tier Spirit Martial Level Technique was simply too precious!

’I’ll get my chance someday,’ Qin Shou told himself. ’As long as I follow the Ninth Young Master and distinguish myself, maybe he’ll be in a good mood and bestow a similar technique upon me!’ Despite his attempts to console himself, he still felt a sour knot of jealousy in his heart.

Yu Yao’s face darkened. She had been dismissive at first, thinking Qin Feng was just grandstanding. She never imagined he would casually whip out an incredibly precious High-Tier Spirit Martial Level Secret Technique.

Her face was grim. The cultivation technique she practiced was only a Mid-Tier Spirit Martial Level one. It was the Yu Family’s most treasured secret technique, and aside from her, only a handful of other Direct Lineage Disciples were qualified to cultivate this family heirloom.

Yet today, right in front of her, Qin Feng had casually bestowed a technique of a higher tier than her own family’s heirloom upon a man who had just sworn fealty. More than just jealousy, Yu Yao felt a boiling rage. Though Qin Feng had done nothing to her directly, it felt like a profound humiliation, as if he had trampled all over her pride.

It was as if he were saying, ’See this? The technique you consider so precious is nothing to me. I can hand them out like party favors.’ She felt like a self-important clown, and the one humiliating her was Qin Feng, the very person she had always looked down upon.

The feeling was absolutely unbearable for Yu Yao.

This was classic Qin Feng: unconventional, impulsive, and happy to return every sentiment in kind. You call him a good-for-nothing? Then this "good-for-nothing" will beat you to death with his bare hands. You look down on him and try to step all over him? He’ll cripple you and spend his days stepping on your head. You curse him as worthless? He’ll stand right in your way just to spite you, making you so miserable you can’t eat or sleep, all while you can never figure him out.

Qin Feng took in everyone’s subtle reactions with a faint smile. He helped Qin Gang to his feet, offered a few words of encouragement, and then said meaningfully, "I, Qin Feng, am always clear in my rewards and punishments. As long as you all follow me, there will be no shortage of opportunities for rewards like the technique I gave out today. The only prerequisite is your loyal service!"

"Yes, Ninth Young Master!" Qin Shou’s eyes were red with excitement. He seemed completely fired up, shouting his response as if he were ready to tear out his own heart to prove his devotion.