Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

"Ding! Your son has successfully humiliated the demon clan genius, Eagle Kong, earning you an automatic recharge of 18 'Father Points.' Your current balance is 45.6 Father Points."

Qin Chuan heard the system's voice ring in his ear.

At the same time, a heart-wrenching roar echoed across the battlefield.

"Eagle Kong!!"

The demon clan's Eagle Loss Elder's face contorted in fury, his eyes bloodshot, and his aura surged violently.

"Whoosh!"

In the blink of an eye, his body vanished.

A moment later, he plummeted from the sky, as though he had attempted to reach the battlefield but was blocked mid-flight.

"Eagle Loss Elder, what are you trying to do?"

A Purple Cloud Academy elder hovered mid-air, smiling as he watched the demon elder fall.

"Eagle Kong is dead! Can't I at least go and see him?" Eagle Loss retorted with hatred in his voice.

"You're not just trying to see him, are you?" Another Purple Cloud elder mocked with amusement.

They suspected the old demon was out for blood. After all, it wasn't uncommon for someone to lose their temper after a defeat.

Just like ten years ago, a Purple Cloud elder had taken his grandson to challenge the Fractured Star Academy. After his grandson was slain by a demon genius, the elder had retaliated, killing that demon genius. Though, in the end, that elder was also killed by Fractured Star's experts and turned into dried meat. His body still hung outside the academy's gates, tempting countless demons with its savory scent...

Since Purple Cloud elders were capable of such actions, it was reasonable to suspect the Fractured Star elders of similar tendencies—after all, empathy runs deep.

Their suspicions were justified.

In that brief moment, Elder Eagle Loss had indeed planned to kill Qin Zi, seeking a mutually destructive end.

His beloved grandson had died, and not only that, but the Fractured Star Academy had also lost a vital treasure, the Celestial True Gold Mine. The double blow left him with a deep desire for revenge, even at the cost of his own life.

"Ding! A seven-tribulation demon elder with eight tribulations has developed killing intent toward your son. In line with the system's 'Fatherly Love Knows No Bounds, Father Must Win' principle, your cultivation will temporarily rise to the level of a six-tribulation sovereign, with invincibility within that realm."

The system's voice chimed in.

Immediately, Qin Chuan felt an overwhelming surge of power course through him, growing exponentially like a nuclear reaction about to explode.

"Hmm?!"

The Purple Cloud Palace Lord's eyes narrowed as he sharply turned toward Qin Chuan, a look of seriousness crossing his face.

What was going on?

Earlier, he had sensed Qin Chuan's cultivation was at the second tribulation level, but now it had skyrocketed to six tribulations!

Such an abrupt and immense change couldn't be a normal breakthrough. There was only one explanation:

Qin Chuan had been hiding his true strength!

For someone to conceal their strength from a quasi-emperor like him, who had passed nine tribulations, this was no ordinary feat.

"The rules of this fragmented world are incomplete; it shouldn't be possible for someone like him to exist unless… he's a revived ancient being."

In that moment, Qin Chuan's presence grew even more mysterious and imposing in the eyes of the Purple Cloud Palace Lord.

"Hmph! You humans are truly despicable, judging others by your own petty standards! Do you think I'd stoop to your level?"

Elder Eagle Loss snorted coldly.

Now that his initial impulse had passed, he regained his composure. The thought of the dried elder still hanging outside Fractured Star Academy's gate sent a chill down his spine.

He had almost lost control.

"In that case, please leave. According to our customs, those geniuses who die in a gate challenge are honored, even in death. We will have someone escort Eagle Kong's remains back to your academy,"

the Purple Cloud Palace Lord said calmly.

"…Thank you,"

Elder Eagle Loss eventually responded in a trembling voice, after a long silence.

Without another word, he transformed into a massive black eagle and soared into the sky, stirring up a gust of wind as he rapidly disappeared from view.

On the battlefield, the moment the demon elder left, the disciples of Purple Cloud Academy erupted into cheers. Many rushed to surround Qin Zi, excitedly chatting and asking questions.

Standing at the center, Qin Zi carried himself with an air of maturity, speaking with confidence, though what he said was something about "everything red and green" and "plucking melons from a vine isn't considered theft…"

Meanwhile, the elders had only just realized something.

"Wait, where's Elder Yulinzi?!"

One elder's shocked outburst broke the calm, setting off a ripple of realization among the others.

Scanning the surroundings, they saw a group of unfamiliar youths and a few unknown sovereigns, but there was no sign of Yulinzi.

In their focus on the battle earlier, they had assumed Yulinzi was also watching from the sidelines. After all, the old man loved nothing more than to spectate, show off, and place bets.

"Reporting to the Palace Lord and all elders, Elder Yulinzi… encountered danger in the fragmented world."

One of the disciples from the academy's ceremonial squad knelt on one knee, speaking cautiously.

"What?!"

"How is that possible?"

"The rules of the fragmented worlds are flawed, making it impossible for strong beings to emerge from them. Even if such beings existed, they would have already reached the main continent. Yulinzi is a nine-tribulation sovereign—how could he…?"

The elders found it hard to accept this news.

It wasn't just about their friendship with Yulinzi; after all, the old man owed them a lot of gambling debts.

"Palace Lord, elders, I swear it's true! In the North Sea of that fragmented world, an ancient beast lay dormant. The Third Elder wielded the Jueque Sword and initially had the upper hand. However, due to underestimating the beast later on…"

The disciple tried to make Yulinzi's failure sound less embarrassing.

Upon hearing this, the others could only accept the unfortunate truth. They lamented and shed a few crocodile tears.

In truth, Purple Cloud Academy was a relatively loose organization. Its elders were from the major families of Purple Cloud Domain, essentially filling positions within the Human Race's Sacred Hall. Their camaraderie was superficial at best.

Otherwise, that "old dried meat" wouldn't still be hanging outside Fractured Star Academy for a decade, with no one bothering to retrieve it.

"Sigh… People come and go, just like the phases of the moon. Notify Elder Yulinzi's family and ask them to send another powerful member to take up the position of Third Elder."

The Purple Cloud Palace Lord sighed.

"Understood."

The other elders nodded in agreement, showing no particular dissatisfaction with the idea of a "hereditary" position. After all, it wasn't a desirable role.

In fact, being an elder of Purple Cloud Academy wasn't a cushy job. It was more akin to being conscripted by the Human Race's Sacred Hall. The academy was stationed here, and each of Purple Cloud Domain's top families was required to send a peak sovereign to serve as an elder—almost like unpaid labor!

As for offering special treatment to their family members, that was pure nonsense.

Purple Cloud Academy didn't have any barriers to entry—any young person of the human race could join. But surviving in the academy? Well, that was up to them.

Many mediocre fools thought they could sneak into the academy, only to be beaten so badly by their fellow disciples that they fled under cover of darkness…