In the mountains on the outskirts of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, Qin Yu pondered for a long while before finally deciding not to meet the leader of the Heavenly Net just yet. He would continue to lie low and train under the identity of Meteor. He put away the fragments of the Three Heaven-Reaching Charts, then vanished into the depths of the forest with a single movement, heading for another branch of the Heavenly Net in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region. He planned to take on a few more missions. That would let him continue honing his combat skills while using the missions as cover to gather more intelligence on the Chu Dynasty and avoid the people the Heavenly Net had sent to contact him.
The Heavenly Net Branch was concealed inside an abandoned ancient temple. Compared with the branch in Luoxia Town, this one was even more secretive, and the assassins who came and went were mostly Gold-Rank and Silver-Rank Assassins tasked with high-difficulty missions. When Qin Yu arrived, several assassins were exchanging mission details in the courtyard. At the sight of him, they hurriedly stepped aside, their eyes full of awe. Meteor's name now resounded throughout the Three Dynasties, and he had long since become a recognized top-tier Gold-Rank Assassin within the Heavenly Net. Even the branch leader had to show him respect.
Qin Yu walked straight to the mission desk. Just as he was about to ask about the latest high-difficulty missions, a cool voice suddenly came from the main hall of the temple. A tremendous pressure of spiritual energy spread slowly across the entire temple. "Please wait, Mr. Meteor."
Qin Yu's heart tightened. He instantly reined in his aura and turned toward the main hall. An old man in a blue brocade robe slowly emerged. His beard and hair were snow-white, his face lean, and his eyes bright and piercing. Powerful spiritual energy rippled around him. He was unmistakably at the peak of the late Xiantian stage. With cultivation like that, he was no ordinary branch leader in the Heavenly Net.
The other assassins in the courtyard bowed at once, their expressions respectful. "Greetings, Blue-Clad Elder!"
"Blue-Clad Elder?" Qin Yu's heart stirred. Though he had been part of the Heavenly Net for over three months, he had never met this elder. He knew that, apart from the Grand Master, the four elders held the highest status in the Heavenly Net. They wore brocade robes in green, blue, purple, and black, and all had cultivation at or above the late Xiantian stage. They oversaw the Heavenly Net's various affairs and rarely showed themselves. The Blue-Clad Elder had come here and waited for him in person, so he clearly had something important to discuss.
Qin Yu cupped his hands slightly, his tone even. "What do you want with me, Elder?" He maintained his identity as Meteor, deliberately lowering his voice to make it sound colder. At the same time, he quietly circulated his spiritual energy, preparing for anything. Even with a High-Grade Spirit Artifact at his side, he had to be cautious against a master at the peak of the late Xiantian stage.
The Blue-Clad Elder looked Qin Yu over, a flicker of approval in his eyes, followed by a hint of scrutiny. "I've long heard of the Meteor Assassin. You're at the late Xiantian stage, wield two powerful weapons, killed Zhen Xu, and defeated two early Xiantian cultivators in succession. Your reputation is well deserved." He paused before continuing, "I came here today for two reasons. First, I wanted to see for myself just how capable the young assassin who made the Heavenly Net's name resound truly is. Second, at the Grand Master's request, I've come to invite you to the Heavenly Net Headquarters. The Grand Master has something important to discuss with you."
Qin Yu grew even more wary. The Heavenly Net Headquarters was extremely secretive, and in all the time he had been part of the organization, he had never learned its exact location. Now the Blue-Clad Elder had come in person to invite him there. Whether this was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen. He replied coolly, "If you want to test my strength, Elder, you can say so directly. There's no need to beat around the bush. But what does the Grand Master want with me? If you don't explain, I may not go."
The Blue-Clad Elder wasn't offended. Instead, a smile tugged at his lips. "You're a composed and decisive young man. Since you put it that way, I won't beat around the bush. The Grand Master intends to give you an important position and wants you to become the Heavenly Net's Enforcement Elder, overseeing the deployment of its assassins. From then on, you'll be able to command the forces of every Heavenly Net branch as you travel between the Three Dynasties. But before that, I must personally confirm your strength and see whether you're qualified for the position."
Before he had finished speaking, the Blue-Clad Elder moved. His spiritual energy, at the peak of the late Xiantian stage, erupted in an instant, and a faint blue light spread around him. His right palm swept toward Qin Yu, carrying immense spiritual energy. The palm wind was fierce and unstoppable, sending ripples of spiritual energy through the air. He had clearly used the Heavenly Net's unique palm technique, and its power was immense.
Qin Yu remained calm. His steps were nimble, and he dodged the Blue-Clad Elder's strike like a phantom. At the same time, the Crimson Short Sword in his hand flashed from its sheath, its crimson light streaking toward the elder's wrist. He didn't use his full strength, only testing the waters with his counterattack. He wanted to show what he could do without completely antagonizing an elder of the Heavenly Net.
"Good move!" A flicker of surprise crossed the Blue-Clad Elder's eyes. He turned his wrist to avoid Qin Yu's short sword, then clenched his left hand into a fist and drove it toward Qin Yu's chest, enveloped in powerful spiritual energy. The two were locked in combat in an instant. Blue and crimson light intertwined and clashed, while the sounds of weapons meeting palms and fists rang out without pause. The ground of the ancient temple trembled faintly. The other assassins retreated and watched from a distance, their eyes full of astonishment.
The Blue-Clad Elder's cultivation was at the peak of the late Xiantian stage, half a step above Qin Yu's. His palm techniques were masterful, and he had a wealth of combat experience. But Qin Yu's physical strength far surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator, and he had the support of High-Grade Spirit Artifacts. His combat skills had also been honed to perfection through his training with the Heavenly Net. Rather than clash head-on with the Blue-Clad Elder's spiritual energy, Qin Yu relied on nimble footwork and precise sword techniques to keep his distance and look for openings. Every strike was accurate and vicious, aimed straight at the elder's vital points.
After dozens of exchanges, the Blue-Clad Elder gradually fell into the worse position. He was increasingly astonished. Though Qin Yu was young, his cultivation was remarkably solid, and his control of spiritual energy and use of techniques far surpassed those of cultivators at the same level. Even when the elder gave it his all, he could barely keep Qin Yu in check. Qin Yu darted aside to evade the elder's palm strike, then drew the Crimson Long Sword in a smooth motion. Both crimson spirit weapons swung at once, their light blazing as a vast wave of fire-attribute spiritual energy spread out, instantly suppressing the Blue-Clad Elder's blue spiritual energy.
Clang! Qin Yu's short sword precisely knocked the Blue-Clad Elder's hand aside, while his long sword came to rest at the elder's throat. The crimson light flickered faintly, but didn't harm him. "You were holding back, Elder." Qin Yu's voice was cold, but he slowly withdrew his sword and reined in his spiritual energy.
The Blue-Clad Elder slowly withdrew his spiritual energy, his face full of praise and admiration. He bowed deeply to Qin Yu. "The Meteor Assassin's strength is extraordinary. I admit defeat. No wonder you could kill Zhen Xu. With your abilities, you're more than qualified to become the Heavenly Net's Enforcement Elder." He was now thoroughly convinced. Qin Yu's strength far exceeded his expectations and ranked among the best even among the Heavenly Net's many elders.
Qin Yu nodded slightly, his tone even. "You're too kind, Elder. Apart from the offer of an important position, does the Grand Master have anything else to discuss with me?" He still hadn't let down his guard. The invitation to the Heavenly Net Headquarters had come too suddenly, and he needed to understand the reason behind it.
"This matter is too important to discuss here. Please come with me to the Heavenly Net Headquarters, where the Grand Master will explain everything in person." The Blue-Clad Elder's tone was gentle, and he was even more respectful now. "Please rest assured: the Grand Master means you no harm. He sincerely wants to give you an important role and discuss a major matter with you."
Qin Yu pondered for a moment, weighing his options. The Heavenly Net Headquarters was extremely secretive. Since joining the organization, he had never learned its exact location, nor had he ever tried to investigate the people behind it. Now the Blue-Clad Elder had come in person to invite him. Whether this was a blessing or a curse was still uncertain. If he refused, he might arouse the Heavenly Net's suspicions, and he wouldn't be able to find out the Grand Master's true intentions. If he went, then even if the Grand Master had ill intentions, Qin Yu might still be able to escape with his strength. He also wanted to see what the Heavenly Net Headquarters looked like and learn what the Grand Master wanted with him.
After considering it carefully, Qin Yu nodded. "All right. I'll go with you to the headquarters. But I have one condition: if the Grand Master's business isn't to my liking, I reserve the right to leave at any time. The Heavenly Net must not stop me."
"Of course!" The Blue-Clad Elder was delighted and promptly agreed. "Please follow me, Mr. Meteor!"
The Blue-Clad Elder then led Qin Yu away from the abandoned temple. They rode in one of the Heavenly Net's discreet, luxurious carriages toward the headquarters. The carriage moved swiftly, concealing its route and avoiding passing cultivators and merchants. In just half a day, they arrived at the Heavenly Net Headquarters: an ancient compound hidden deep in the mountains. It was heavily guarded, and black-clad Heavenly Net Assassins stood everywhere, their auras cold and formidable. The place was more imposing than any branch.
The Blue-Clad Elder led Qin Yu through the ancient compound's many checkpoints and eventually brought him to its main hall. A figure in a black brocade robe sat in the seat of honor, his face imposing and his gaze sharp. Powerful spiritual energy rippled around him. Qin Yu's heart jolted. Only after looking closely did he recognize the man as the ruler of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion—Qin De! He had never imagined that the Heavenly Net's Grand Master would be his own father. His heart surged with shock, but he forced himself to remain composed and maintain his guise as Meteor.
Suppressing his shock and confusion, he kept up his guise as Meteor and cupped his hands slightly, his tone cold. "Meteor pays his respects to the Grand Master." He wore a black mask that revealed only his cool eyes, and he had deliberately concealed his appearance and aura. He didn't want Qin De to recognize him, and he was still full of questions. Why was his father the Heavenly Net's Grand Master? Was the Heavenly Net actually his father's organization?
Qin De sat in the seat of honor, his gaze fixed on Qin Yu. A complicated look flickered in his eyes: delight, pride, and a hint of tenderness that was almost imperceptible. He didn't speak right away, merely studying Qin Yu closely. His figure, his aura, the crimson spirit weapons in his hands, and even the composure that slipped unconsciously into his voice—all of it was exactly like his son, Qin Yu.
Standing to one side, the Blue-Clad Elder saw Qin De remain silent and hurriedly spoke up. "Grand Master, the Meteor Assassin is here. I've tested his strength, and it's truly extraordinary. He's more than qualified to become the Enforcement Elder."
Qin De slowly raised a hand, signaling for the Blue-Clad Elder to leave. Though puzzled, the elder bowed and replied, "Yes, Grand Master." He then turned and left the main hall, closing the doors behind him and leaving Qin De and Qin Yu alone.
Silence settled over the main hall for a brief moment. Qin De kept his gaze fixed on Qin Yu, then gradually smiled with warmth. He spoke at last, his voice trembling faintly. "Yu'er, stop pretending. I recognized you."
Qin Yu's heart tightened. His hand clenched around the crimson spirit weapon, and surprise and alarm flashed in his eyes. He had thought he'd hidden himself well. He wore a mask and had deliberately changed his voice, yet Qin De had still recognized him at a glance. After a brief silence, he realized there was no point in hiding it any longer. He slowly raised a hand and took off his black mask, revealing a young, composed face.
"Father..." Qin Yu's voice was no longer cold. It held a trace of guilt and relief. "I didn't mean to hide this from you. I just wanted to train in the Chu Dynasty under the identity of Meteor, secretly gathering intelligence for the Qin Family and clearing obstacles without revealing myself or disrupting my training."
Qin De looked at his son, pride and relief filling his eyes. He stood and strode over to Qin Yu, patting him on the shoulder. "Good boy, good boy! I don't blame you. On the contrary, I'm proud of you!" He looked Qin Yu up and down. "You've grown so much through your training these past few years. Your cultivation has stabilized at the late Xiantian stage, and you've used your own strength to kill Zhen Xu as an assassin of the Heavenly Net, making the Three Dynasties tremble. Your master certainly didn't send you down the mountain for nothing."
"It's all thanks to Master's guidance, and to the training I've received from the Heavenly Net. It's given me plenty of real combat experience." Qin Yu bowed, his eyes full of humility.
"Immortal Master Yun Ce certainly deserves credit, but your own hard work is what matters most." Qin De smiled, then asked, "Why did you join the Heavenly Net? Did you already know it was an organization I'd secretly built?"
Qin Yu shook his head and answered honestly. "When I left the mountain to train, I got caught up in a fight by chance. A Silver-Rank Assassin from the Heavenly Net invited me to join. At the time, I had no idea the Heavenly Net was yours, Father. I never even imagined it had any connection to the Qin Family. I thought joining would let me conceal my identity, hone my combat skills, and use the Heavenly Net's connections to gather intelligence on the Chu Dynasty, so I agreed. It wasn't until I saw you today that I learned the Heavenly Net was an organization you'd secretly built. I was just as shocked."
Qin De burst out laughing. "What a coincidence! Perhaps it was fate. I never expected you to join the Heavenly Net and act under the identity of Meteor. In the end, it's proved more effective than if I'd deliberately arranged it. Now that your reputation has spread and the Three Dynasties know your name, you'll be able to act far more efficiently, whether you're assassinating important figures in the Chu Dynasty or gathering intelligence."
As father and son reunited and talked, a pale purple light drifted slowly in from outside the hall and settled in the center of the room. As it faded, Yun Ce's figure gradually appeared. He still wore a plain Daoist robe, his face serene and a faint smile on his lips. Looking at Qin Yu and Qin De, he said, "Qin De, Yu'er, it seems you've finally been reunited."
Qin De and Qin Yu both turned toward Yun Ce and bowed. "Greetings, Immortal Master Yun Ce."
Yun Ce nodded slightly, then looked at Qin De with a smile. "Your Highness must have many questions: why Yu'er joined the Heavenly Net, and how he grew so much in just a few months. Today, I'll explain it all."
A look of surprise crossed Qin De's face, and he hurriedly replied, "Please enlighten me, sir. I do have many questions. Yu'er joining the Heavenly Net was such a coincidence that I can't help wondering whether you arranged it."
Yun Ce smiled faintly and spoke slowly. "You're right. Yu'er's joining the Heavenly Net seemed like a coincidence, but I guided him there deliberately. He went down the mountain to temper his character and hone his combat skills, and the Heavenly Net—with its mix of all kinds of people and its reach across the Three Dynasties—was the perfect place for him to train. There, he could encounter all kinds of fights and sharpen his combat skills, while using the Heavenly Net's connections to learn about the Chu Dynasty's distribution of power and gather intelligence in preparation for the future Conquest of Chu. I didn't tell Yu'er that the Heavenly Net belonged to you because I was afraid he'd act with reservations if he knew, and wouldn't be able to train without holding back."
He paused, then continued, "I also told him to conceal his identity. If Yu'er acted as the third son of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, Xiang Guang would certainly become wary. He'd find it difficult to establish himself in the Chu Dynasty, let alone train in peace. As the Heavenly Net's Meteor Assassin, he could hide his true identity, build a reputation through his own strength, intimidate his enemies, and secretly help the Qin Family. It served several purposes at once."
Qin De understood at once. His doubts vanished, and he bowed deeply to Yun Ce. "So that's how it was. Thank you for your thoughtful arrangements, Immortal Master! You've gone to such trouble for Yu'er's growth and for the Qin Family's Conquest of Chu!" At last, he understood that every one of Yun Ce's plans had been for Qin Yu and the Qin Family. His gratitude toward Yun Ce grew all the more.
Qin Yu bowed to Yun Ce as well. "Thank you for all your effort, Master. I won't let you or Father down. I'll keep training hard, break through the peak of External Martial Arts as soon as possible, win great merit for the Qin Family's Conquest of Chu, and avenge my mother!"
Yun Ce nodded slightly, his eyes full of expectation. "Good. That's the spirit. Now that you and your father have been honest with each other, you'll have another source of support in your future endeavors. But remember, don't let your guard down just because your identity has been revealed. Xiang Guang already suspects your father, and the road ahead remains dangerous. You must still act with caution."
Qin De and Qin Yu nodded at the same time, their expressions grave. They both knew what Yun Ce had said: the Xiang Family's ancestor, Xiang Yang, was a Nascent Soul cultivator of immense power. If Xiang Guang truly decided to alarm Xiang Yang, the Qin Family would face a tremendous crisis.
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