"Ah?!"
Qin Zi was momentarily stunned, his mouth agape, looking at his father in disbelief.
What's going on?
Why is Dad suddenly coming up with this idea?
An alchemy competition champion?
I haven't learned alchemy at all!
"Dad, I..."
Qin Zi showed a troubled expression, ready to back out, but then the voice of the blonde woman quickly echoed in his mind.
"Agree with your dad! Quickly agree with him!"
The blonde woman's voice was a bit anxious because she knew that Qin Chuan's words weren't just directed at Qin Zi.
They were also meant for her!
If Qin Zi said no, it would be as if she had refused Qin Chuan. The consequences of that would be unbearable for her.
She dared not refuse this terrifying man!
"Master, I really don't know how to do alchemy." Qin Zi responded anxiously in his mind.
"With me here, what are you afraid of? A mere alchemy competition is a piece of cake," the blonde woman said disdainfully.
"Master can do alchemy?!"
Qin Zi suddenly felt thrilled. Given Master's unfathomable level of mastery, her alchemy skills must not be low.
With this assurance, he felt at ease.
So he continued from where he left off, speaking with enthusiasm, "Dad... I... I definitely won't let you down!!"
At this moment, he was full of ambition.
He was about to become a distinguished alchemy master!
"Hmm, not bad."
Qin Chuan smiled and patted his son's head—a son who was obedient, making the father pleased.
Moreover, from the momentary hesitation earlier and the change in attitude, he was already a hundred percent certain in his heart.
There was definitely an old man in the ring!
...
There were still at least several days left until the alchemy competition.
And for Qin Chuan and his son, the immediate priority was to find a place to live in Minghao City and settle down.
So, after asking a few passersby, Qin Chuan took his son to the housing sales office of the Wanbao Commerce Association.
Wanbao Commerce Association.
A massive commercial organization with industries spanning the major capitals of various dynasties, possessing terrifying financial power and deep-rooted influence!
That's right!!
The kind of organization that occasionally holds auctions where protagonists snag great deals, nurturing countless travelers - that kind of business organization!
And the Wanbao Commerce Association's range of industries is very wide, and developing and selling real estate is also one of their businesses.
Outside the magnificent trading hall stood two colossal jade sculptures, a green dragon on the left and a white tiger on the right.
The statues sparkled brightly, inlaid with various jewels, showcasing the financial prowess of the Wanbao Commerce Association.
"Xiao Zi, this is the gold card of the Wanbao Commerce Association. You go buy the house this time; think of it as a bit of training for you."
Qin Chuan stood outside the trading hall and handed a gold card imprinted with a treasure image to Qin Zi.
This gold card was issued at the Wanbao Branch in Xunyang City, with a cap of hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones, enough to buy a luxury mansion.
"Alright, Dad!"
Qin Zi took the gold card, feeling instantly excited.
This was his first time coming into contact with so much money, and it also represented his father's recognition of his abilities!
"Go on, remember, you must have confidence, don't be afraid, because... Dad's got your back."
Qin Chuan patted his shoulder, encouraging him.
"Hmm!!"
Qin Zi nodded earnestly, then, full of confidence, walked towards the trading hall, neither overbearing nor servile.
His mindset was completely different from before.
In the past, whenever he went to the Wanbao Commerce Branch in Xunyang City, he would tread cautiously, afraid of offending any important people.
But now, it's different.
I, Qin Zi, have stood up!!
With my dad invincible in the world, who in the Jiuyang Dynasty can I not afford to offend? No one!
No causing trouble.
No fear of trouble.
This is now his code of conduct.
And Qin Chuan, seeing his son stride confidently into the trading hall, quietly found a corner to lay low...
Why didn't he go to buy the house himself?
Because from his years of experience, such open trading venues are hot spots for incidents.
Especially when a loser or someone related to a loser goes in, something almost invariably happens!
For example, when they have their eye on something and want to buy it, there's bound to be a minor villain popping up to raise the price.
Thus, conflict arises.
Qin Chuan himself didn't wish to encounter such conflicts, but... he hoped his son would!
Therefore, letting his son go in to buy a house was definitely a win-win approach.
He wasn't worried that his son would be slaughtered on the spot.
Because losers are notoriously resilient, even if he died, his loser son probably wouldn't die.
Moreover... losers generally have the skill of "possessed by an old spirit," allowing them to temporarily surge in power and wipe out minor villains!
In short.
He just laid low here.
Waiting for his son to cause a big commotion, beat up the small ones and then when the big ones came, he would rush in to strongly protect his cub.
"Sir, please don't smash it, I beg you!"
At this moment, a plea came from the nearby street.
Qin Chuan turned his head to look.
He saw a middle-aged man who looked like a shopkeeper kneeling at the entrance of a tavern, while several men wielding clubs were looking at him coldly.
The leading man sneered, "Yesterday, when our young master came to eat, you actually dared to charge him! Such a shady shop, still wanting to stay open?"
"I didn't know it was your young master at that time, plus I didn't end up charging him, even sent a fine wine!"
The shopkeeper said with a mournful face.
"Hmph! Does it matter whether you charged or not? Is our young master short of that money? The important thing is that your shady shop ruined our young master's mood!"
"Go smash it for me!"
The leading man said, then led the group of men inside to start smashing and looting.
"No! This is my family's three generations of hard work, you... you... wuwuwu..."
The shopkeeper lay on the ground crying, feeling angry but not daring to speak up.
In the corner of the street.
Qin Chuan turned his head back and shook it dismissively, "Heh, a trivial matter, trying to mess with my state of mind?"
At this moment.
If it were the usual chosen one, they might get heated up and rush over to uphold justice.
But he had no mood for meddling.
This world is inherently survival of the fittest, the weak get bullied—an immutable law of survival for anyone.
Moreover, for his particular situation, the opportunity cost of meddling is too high.
After all, as long as he lays low properly, letting his son cause trouble, eventually, he'd be invincible in the world!
But if he rushed out to meddle, he might get killed off with no value at all.
Qin Chuan continued to lay low.
"Boom!"
"Ah, they're fighting!"
"Bam bam bam bam bam!"
"Someone's killed—"
"Young Gang Leader!!"
At this point, chaotic noises emanated from inside the trading hall, many people screamed in panic, fleeing out from within.
Qin Chuan came to the entrance, grabbed a person, and asked, "What happened inside?"
"Someone's dead, someone's dead! The Young Gang Leader of the Dragon Serpent Gang fought fiercely with an unnamed youngster over a house and got killed!"
The person said frantically while running in place, "Run quick! When the Dragon Serpent Gang's men come, we might get caught in the crossfire!"
Having said that, the person forcefully broke free of Qin Chuan's grip, tearing a piece of his sleeve.
But Qin Chuan grabbed his wrist again and asked, "What is the strongest cultivation level of the Dragon Serpent Gang?"
"Pure Yang Realm Level Two! Oh, stop dawdling, run, lives are at stake!!" the person said, gritting his teeth.
Qin Chuan let him go.
Immediately, the person ran off as fast as he could into the distance.
Qin Chuan waited in place but didn't see his son come out; it seemed he was being held in the trading hall.
If there's a commotion, the involved parties cannot leave.
Although the Wanbao Commerce Association had a vast business and didn't fear the Dragon Serpent Gang, they still needed to operate with reason, or their reputation would suffer.
"This is also good; I'll wait for the Dragon Serpent Gang to arrive, going in neither sooner nor later is better timed."
Qin Chuan continued shrinking in the corner.
After a while, the system's voice echoed in his mind.
"Ding! The Gang Leader of the Dragon Serpent Gang at Pure Yang Realm Level Two wants to rend your son into pieces. Based on the principle of paternal love like a mountain, a father must win, your cultivation will be enhanced to Pure Yang Realm Level Two, with invincibility in that realm!"
Boom!!!
Qin Chuan felt as if a volcano erupted within him, his blood turning scalding hot like lava.
The unprecedented sense of power surged like rivers inside, more than tenfold stronger than before!
This is the power of the Pure Yang Realm!!