Chapter 58: The Secret of the Great Valve

  (PS: Today's third update, brothers, continue to sweep for recommendation votes, haha. Can't let the points be too embarrassing.)

  Back at the inn, Father and Sister were both standing at the door, looking anxious.

  Seeing Qin Wushuang return safely, the two of them turned their worries into joy and welcomed him over.

  "Qin Wuduan, are you alright?" Qin Xiu grasped Qin Wuduan's hand and asked with concern.

  "Come in and say it."

  A family of three entered Qin Wushuang's room. Qin Wushuang spoke up, "Sister, don't worry, it's nothing."

  Qin Lianshan's voice was stern as he asked: "Ximen Dafang? Ximen Dafang again?"

  It can be heard that Father's tone is filled with desolation, and even some horror. The intervention of the powerful forces has far exceeded his tolerance range.

  The Qin family, even in its most glorious moments, was nothing more than a wealthy and influential family. The gap with the aristocratic families remained vast.

  At this moment, people from Ximen's side came to the door one after another. This made Qin Lianshan worry and even produce some wavering.

  "It's just Ximen Daxia, but this time he's even more formidable than the last time I saw him at the Daiyu family."

  Qin Lianshan's heart skipped a beat, was he more ruthless than Ximen Qian?

  Ximen Qian was bossing around in front of Da Xuheng, which many nobles had witnessed. In Qin Lianshan's mind, Ximen Qian already belonged to the unattainable level.

  How much stronger is Bisimillah than a thousand?

  Qin Wushuang observed his father's words and expressions, knowing that he had already wavered in his heart. This was also understandable, as in his father's perception, this had indeed far exceeded the scope.

  "Father, you taught me to recite the Qin family's ancestral teachings since I was three years old. How many years has it been now?"

  Those who plot against the property of our Qin clan shall be punished five times as severely.

  Those who plot against me will be struck with ten times the force.

  Those who want to destroy my Qin family will be struck with all my might, and I will show no mercy, even if it means destroying everything!

  These three ancestral teachings, every male descendant of the Qin family since childhood, started memorizing from the age of three and had to recite at least one million times throughout their lives.

  How could Qin Lian Shan forget?

  Seeing his father not speaking, Qin Wushuang continued: "The current situation is no longer just a dispute over family property and noble status, but a matter of the survival of the entire Qin clan. Do you know what the three people from the Ximen clan said this time?"

  "What did they say?" Qin Lianshan's eyes flashed with a hint of anger and unyielding determination.

  "They say that if the humble Qin family does not give up on competing with the wealthy families, within ten days, our entire Qin family will be destroyed."

  Bang!

  Qin Lianshan slammed his fist on the tea table, causing the tea utensils to fly all over the place.

  "Father, calm down. I want to ask you, if we really give up the struggle for the Hao Gate, with the Ximen and Xu families' wolf-like nature, would they not take advantage of our humble Qin family?"

  Qin Lianshan's expression solidified, his eyes revealing a deep contemplation. His young son had already analyzed the situation very thoroughly. The current situation, whether advancing or retreating, would not change the enemy's momentum. Continuing to fight would inevitably lead to retaliation; not fighting, and the Qin family would be reduced to commoner status from then on, only having the fate of being manipulated by others.

  Under such circumstances, how to make a choice and what else needs to be considered?

  Qin Lianshan is a competitive person at heart. His previous wavering was only because the gap with the big family was too large, and he couldn't accept this reality for a while.

  After weighing the pros and cons, he slapped the table, his eyes gleaming with intensity, and said in a deep voice: "Those who want to destroy my Qin family will be struck with all our might, and we won't mind burning jade and stone together! Wuduan, are you confident for this afternoon's battle?"

  Qin Wushuang said calmly: "Eliminating the Hui family is like eliminating a dog! Father, after the third battle this afternoon, I, Qin, will return to the ranks of the aristocracy, and all will celebrate!"

  As soon as the words fell, Qin Wushuang suddenly smiled slightly: "There are guests arriving."

  Outside the corridor, neat footsteps quickly approached and filled the ears.

  "Where is the leader of the Qin family?"

  Qin Lianshan listened and was shocked to find that it was actually Zhou, the white-bearded examiner who had hosted them at the True Martial Sacred Ground.

  "Haha, Old Zhou, come on in."

  Qin Wushuang opened the door and took a glance outside, only to see behind Old Man Zhou, twenty-four warriors dressed in the formal attire of the True Martial Sacred Land, standing neatly in the corridor. These people were all physically fit, with deep eyes, and at first glance, they looked like well-trained masters.

  Individually, they each have at least four stages of cultivation in the True Martial Realm. When they act together, their power is even more formidable.

  "I heard there's been some trouble here?" Zhou Lao seemed to smile but didn't say anything further.

  "They were just three jumping clowns, and when I mentioned the name of the True Martial Sacred Land, they were already scared off." Qin Wushuang said with a relaxed tone.

  Zhou Lao nodded and turned around to close the door, then walked closer and asked in a low voice: "Ximen Dajie?"

  "Xīmén dà guān!" = "West Gate Big Official!"

  "How strong is this newcomer?" Old Zhou asked again.

  "One 8th dan and two 7th dans. With just these three men, it's enough to annihilate the entire Luojiang County."

  Qin Lianshan originally didn't know what kind of strength the person who came had, but after hearing Qin Wushuang mention it, although he had mentally prepared himself, he was still shocked.

  Shinmu-kyo Eighth Dan?

  Establish a great valve family, just ask for one true martial eighth rank! Is it that the patriarch of the Ximen Valve personally drove over?

  Zhou Lao's expression changed slightly, as if he was thinking to himself: "Ximen Dajie is getting more and more outrageous. It seems that Ximen Qian didn't take Huang Zongguan's warning to heart. To be so contemptuous of the prestige of the True Martial Sacred Land, it appears that Ximen Dajie has become arrogant and ignorant of the heights of heaven and earth over the years."

  "There's something I'd like to ask Old Zhou about."

  "Tell me then."

  "How many people are there in the Western Ximen clan, who have reached the True Martial Realm's 8th stage?" This was what Qin Wusuo was concerned about. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.

  "The country of Baiyue has four major kingdoms, each governing eight states. Each state has a powerful family, in addition to the four major royal cities and the imperial capital, there are over a dozen powerful families, totaling around 40-50. The Ximen family is ranked fifth among all the powerful families nationwide, with unparalleled influence. Its head is at the ninth stage of the True Martial Realm. At least three people have reached the eighth stage of the True Martial Realm. As for those at the seventh stage, there are likely over ten."

  Indeed, there is a true Wu Jing nine-stage. Qin Wusuo had some mental preparation, but he was still slightly surprised. However, he didn't worry about it; what's the big deal about being at the ninth stage?

  "What's going on with those twelve major valves again?"

  "One theory is that the Twelve Great Families are related to the Ninth Stage of the True Martial Realm. Among dozens of great families in the country, only twelve have achieved the Ninth Stage of the True Martial Realm, hence they are collectively known as the 'Twelve Great Families'. This title simply means they are one step higher than other great families."

  "So that's how it is." Qin Wushuang finally understood what the Twelve Great Families meant, and it turned out to have this kind of meaning.

  Zhou Lao suddenly smiled and said in a strange tone, "There's still half an hour before the third match. The battle for the championship, are you going to give up or continue?"

  "What made Old Zhou say such a thing?" Qin Wusuo was taken aback.

  "A threat from an 8th dan master of Zhen Wu Xian, aren't you afraid?"

  Qin Wushuang stared at Zhou Lao for a long time, and after a while, he let out a bitter laugh and said: "Zhou Lao, I almost didn't realize you were just testing me."

  He immediately puffed out his chest, and in a loud, clear voice, he declared: "The same words - after the third battle, the illustrious House of Xu will be stripped of its name!"

  Zhou Lao Yi listened and also smiled with pleasure, clapping his hands: "Good, not afraid of authority, not intimidated by threats. Only ask about your true heart's conviction, this is the true nature of a great man. Wú Shuāng, rest assured, old man doesn't dare to boast about other things, but in this battle for the top families, our True Martial Sacred Land will definitely uphold justice and create an absolutely fair competitive environment for you!"

  Qin Wushuang nodded, but left a thought in his mind. Zhou Lao's words were worth pondering. He only said that in the struggle for power among the wealthy families, he would create an absolutely fair environment for the Qin family, without mentioning anything further.

  As for whether Ximen's powerful family will retaliate and what their next move will be, or if the Zhenwu Sacred Grounds will intervene, he didn't mention a word.

  Of course, Qin Wushuang did not have any resentment. The True Martial Sacred Land was already quite good at this point. After all, between the humble and the aristocratic families, being able to remain impartial was rare.

  Qin Wushuang had a strong and unyielding personality, so he naturally didn't bother to go to the True Martial Sacred Land to beg for protection.

  There has never been a savior; one's own affairs have never been accomplished by relying on others. Self-reliance and self-improvement are the only way out; hoping for external help is mostly in vain!

  Zhou Lao didn't mind how Qin Wushuang thought, and smiled: "Time is almost up, it's just right that we also need to set off to Lujiang Square to maintain order, why not go together?"

  "No need, Mr. Zhou please go first." Qin Wushuang politely declined.

  Zhou Lao looked at Qin Wushuang with appreciation, smiled and went out. In his heart, he admired the young man's proud bones and sighed silently, "It's not that I'm unwilling to make an effort, but the water of Baiyue Kingdom is indeed murky..."

  He also knew the reason why Qin Wushuang refused to go together, at this time, Qin naturally did not want to be recognized as relying on the protection of Zhenwu Sacred Land to dare to walk towards the martial arts arena.

  This is an attitude, a confident attitude that only a top-notch strong person should have.

  It's strange that such a posture actually comes from a young man in his early twenties!