Chapter Thirty-Two: The Master-Disciple Initiation Gift

Liao Chen had not expected that among his three disciples, it would be Qin Tian, the youngest, who first achieved a breakthrough to the Imperial Realm. Furthermore, the system rewarded him with one hundred million cultivation experience points for this achievement—a massive windfall of experience. Delighted, he decided to reward his disciple handsomely.

He sent a telepathic message to Qin Tian: "Qin Tian, come to my quarters at once!"

Upon receiving his master’s summons, Qin Tian immediately flashed to Liao Chen’s residence.

"Greetings, Master!" Qin Tian bowed respectfully.

Liao Chen looked at his disciple with a smile. "Qin Tian, there is no need for such formalities here. I called you today because you have advanced to the Imperial Realm. I am very pleased with your progress, and as such, you deserve a reward."

"First, your current weapon is no longer sufficient for your strength. I am gifting you a quasi-imperial weapon. This sword is called the Demon-Slaying Sword; it will serve you well until you reach the Emperor Realm."

"Secondly, your weapon requires enhancement with various gemstones. I have here a sixth-rank Power Stone, a set of sixth-rank Five-Element Stones, and a sixth-rank Wind-Speed Stone. You may take them and inlay them into your weapon yourself."

"Finally, I am giving you ten seventh-rank supreme-grade Essence-Nurturing Pills and ten seventh-rank supreme-grade Marrow-Cleansing Pills."

Liao Chen handed all the rewards to Qin Tian. The young disciple was moved to tears, never expecting such generosity from his master. A quasi-imperial weapon was a treasure that many third-rate sects did not even possess; yet, as a mere personal disciple, he now held one.

As for the seventh-rank pills, they were priceless items, often considered more valuable than a quasi-imperial weapon. While a weapon could be forged with enough materials, high-grade medicinal pills were nearly impossible to obtain, as master alchemists were far rarer than blacksmiths. Such treasures were typically hoarded within sacred sects, making them unattainable to the average practitioner.

"Thank you, Master! I have nothing to repay you with, but I am willing to stay by your side and serve you for the rest of my life!" Qin Tian said from the depths of his heart. In his mind, apart from his grandmother, Liao Chen was his only family.

Seeing the boy’s pure heart and gratitude, Liao Chen nodded. "Qin Tian, it has been a while since you visited your grandmother. Now that your strength is sufficient to protect yourself, go home and visit her today."

"Yes, Master!" Qin Tian took his leave.

***

After Qin Tian departed, Liao Chen prepared to reward Jiang Qian and Hu Ling'er as well. He was unaware that the two female disciples were walking toward Peach Tree Peak, feeling dejected. They felt humiliated that, despite joining forces, they could not defeat Qin Tian; as personal disciples, they felt they had lost all face. Just then, they received a telepathic message from their master.

Not daring to delay, they steeled themselves and arrived outside Liao Chen's hall. Seeing their dejected appearance, Liao Chen asked curiously, "Qian'er, Ling'er, what is wrong? Who has bullied you? Tell me, and I will settle the score for you!"

The two girls hurriedly shook their heads, but Liao Chen was not about to let it slide. "I command you to tell me what is troubling you!"

Reluctantly, Jiang Qian explained how they had joined forces against Qin Tian on the arena stage and still lost. Liao Chen burst into laughter after hearing this. "You two silly girls! You are truly foolish to pit your weaknesses against Qin Tian’s strengths."

"Qian'er, you must know that your talent lies in array formations. Arrays can be used for offense or defense, but they are not primarily for killing. If you wish to defeat Qin Tian, your cultivation and strength must surpass his, otherwise, you are bound to lose."

"Similarly, Ling'er, your talent is in illusions. Your path is that of the Phantom Spirit, primarily focused on trapping enemies rather than direct slaughter. Facing a killing machine like Qin Tian, it is difficult to trap him, let alone slay him. To deal with someone like Qin Tian, you need external aid. I called you here today to give you gifts that will address your shortcomings."

"Qian'er, since you specialize in arrays, I bestow upon you the 'Exquisite Array Pagoda,' a supreme-grade artifact. This treasure will amplify your offensive power; with it, you should be able to easily defeat the Qin Tian you just fought. Ling'er, since you specialize in illusions, I bestow upon you the 'Phantom Spirit Pagoda,' another supreme-grade artifact. It will greatly increase your attack power, allowing you to defeat him as well. However, because Qin Tian has now reached the Imperial Realm and wields the quasi-imperial weapon I gave him, these pagodas may prove insufficient against his new weapon."

Jiang Qian and Hu Ling'er exchanged a look, then spoke in unison with shared resolve: "Master, we would rather forgo the pagodas. Please permit us to reach the Imperial Realm first, and then bestow quasi-imperial weapons upon us later!"

Liao Chen smiled slightly and asked, "Are you certain?"

"We are certain!" they replied together.

Liao Chen nodded, satisfied with their attitude. "Qian'er, Ling'er, it is good that you think this way. You do not need to compare yourselves to Tian; you only need to compare yourselves to your past selves. If you continue to transcend your own limits, your future achievements will be boundless. Now, go and enter seclusion to breakthrough!"

The girls nodded and left. Upon returning to Peach Tree Peak, they immediately entered seclusion, determined not to emerge until they had reached the Imperial Realm.

Meanwhile, Qin Tian returned to his hometown. He had bought plenty of food and clothes for his grandmother, but when he pushed open the door, he found the house empty. He called out loudly. Just then, Auntie Wang from next door passed by and asked, "Is that Qin Tian back?"

***

Qin Tian asked Auntie Wang where his grandmother was. Auntie Wang sighed, "Qin Tian, you are too late. Your grandmother was killed by Qin Batian, the local tyrant from the East Village. When Qin Batian learned your grandmother had returned home with gold coins, he claimed they were stolen from his family. He sent his thugs to seize the coins. When your grandmother protested, he had his henchmen beat her to death and dump her body in the mass grave. She had nothing left, so we neighbors had no choice but to build a cenotaph for her."

Hearing this, Qin Tian’s eyes turned bloodshot. He roared, "Qin Batian, I will wipe out your entire family!"

Auntie Wang, unaware of Qin Tian’s cultivation, tried to persuade him not to be reckless, fearing he would lose his life. But Qin Tian, consumed by fury, ignored her warning and vanished in a flash. Only then did Auntie Wang realize that the boy was perhaps not as weak as he appeared.

Soon, screams erupted from Qin Batian’s home. Auntie Wang rushed toward the house, only to see flashes of sword light and hear incessant wailing. Concerned for Qin Tian’s safety, she ignored the danger and charged in. Instead of seeing Qin Tian in distress, she saw the members of the Qin Batian family lying in pools of blood, their bodies mangled and lifeless.

Not a single person remained alive in the house, not even the dogs they kept, which had been decapitated by Qin Tian’s sword. Seeing this, Auntie Wang felt an urge to vomit.

"Qin Tian, are you alright?" she called out from a distance, not wanting to disturb him if he was injured.

Having finished off the family, Qin Tian’s rage had subsided. Seeing Auntie Wang, he replied in a calm tone, "Auntie Wang, I am fine. This blood belongs to Qin Batian’s family. Could you take me to my grandmother’s cenotaph?"

Auntie Wang nodded and led him to the grave. Qin Tian knelt and kowtowed three times. He took food from his storage ring and placed it before the wooden tablet, then burned the clothes he had brought. He handed some gold coins to Auntie Wang and departed.

At the mass grave, hunters in the distance heard the screams of ferocious beasts. That day, all the beasts in the mass grave were slaughtered. No one knew who had done it. The news spread quickly through the Qin Village, and within a hundred-mile radius, not a single beast was seen again. Perhaps only Auntie Wang knew the truth, but she kept her suspicions to herself.