Secrets of the First Emperor Revealed, the Qin Family's Grand Plan Begins

Ever since his last visit to Cloud Mist Villa to see Yun Ce, Qin De had frequently sent people to the small courtyard to offer greetings or deliver rare spirit materials and medicinal pills. He never caused any unnecessary disturbance, hoping only that Qin Yu could focus on his cultivation under Yun Ce. Qin Yu, for his part, had not slacked off; he spent his days in the Spirit Gathering Array, diligently practicing the Heaven-Reaching Chart to stabilize his Xiantian realm. In just half a month, he had mastered the sixth level of the technique to perfection, waiting only for the right moment to attempt the seventh.

One day, just as Qin Yu finished his cultivation, Lian Yan arrived once again. He bowed respectfully and said, "Little Prince, the Prince requests your immediate presence at the main hall of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion. He says there is an important matter to discuss with you."

Qin Yu's heart stirred, and he turned to look at Yun Ce. "Master, Father is looking for me; it must be something of great importance."

Yun Ce sat cross-legged, his fingers forming seals as he refined a Spirit Power Purification Pill. Hearing this, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze gentle yet carrying a profound depth. "Go. You have already broken through to the Xiantian realm; you are no longer the child who needs protection. It is time you learned a thing or two about the affairs of the Qin Family. Remember, no matter what you hear, hold fast to your inner resolve."

"This disciple will keep your teachings in mind!" Qin Yu bowed in salute, then followed Lian Yan down the mountain toward the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion.

The Hidden Dragon Continent is vast and boundless, and to this day, no one has been able to explore its entirety. In the far east lies the endless Boundless Wilderness, a place of towering mountains, dense primeval forests, and rampant demonic beasts. The deeper one ventures, the more formidable the beasts become. Even the "Immortal Masters" of the Hidden Dragon Continent dare not venture deep into the heart of the wilderness, limiting their explorations to the fringes.

West of the Boundless Wilderness lies the core region of the Hidden Dragon Continent, where the three great dynasties—the Chu Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty—are entrenched. The combined population of these three dynasties is nearly ten billion, and their territories are terrifyingly vast. Among them, the Chu Dynasty is the most powerful, and the Qin Family is the top-tier clan within the Chu Dynasty, possessing enough strength to rival the imperial family itself.

The Qin Family occupies the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region out of the twelve prefectures of the Chu Dynasty. This area borders the Boundless Wilderness, serving as the first line of defense against the demonic beasts of the wilderness and acting as the foundation of the Qin Family. With a history spanning several hundred years, the Qin Family is deeply rooted in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region with immense influence. Even the Emperor of the Chu Dynasty must weigh his own strength carefully before daring to move against them.

Before long, Qin Yu arrived at the main hall of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion. Inside, Qin De sat in the main seat with a majestic expression. On either side sat his eldest brother, Qin Feng, his second brother, Qin Zheng, and Qin De's trusted strategist, Xu Yuan. The four were whispering about something, but they stopped as soon as they saw Qin Yu enter.

"Father, Big Brother, Second Brother, Uncle Xu Yuan." Qin Yu bowed in salute, his gaze sweeping over the four. His confusion only deepened—his father had never allowed him to participate in these meetings before. Being summoned today specifically meant something extraordinary was afoot.

"Everyone, sit down first." Qin De raised a hand, signaling for Qin Yu and the others to take their seats. He sat in his grand chair, his gaze slowly falling upon Qin Yu with complex emotions—affection, expectation, and a trace of barely perceptible gravity.

Qin Yu sat around the long table with Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, and Xu Yuan. Xu Yuan still held a folding fan, offering Qin Yu a gentle smile, though his eyes held a hidden depth. Qin Feng looked composed, while Qin Zheng watched Qin Yu with burning eyes, as if he had something to say.

"Father, why did you ask me to come here? What is going on?" Qin Yu asked first. He was still completely in the dark; although he had known for years that his father was plotting something in secret, he had never delved into it, nor had he ever been allowed to participate.

Qin De nodded slowly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable weight. "Yu'er, haven't you always wondered what your father has been doing and what plans I have been carrying out? It is true, I have kept many things from you. I originally intended to tell you only after you came of age. Today, although you have not yet reached your sixteenth birthday, you have broken through to the Xiantian realm in External Martial Arts and have the strength to stand in the Qin Family. You are now qualified to know these secrets."

Qin Yu's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward slightly, his expression full of curiosity and anticipation. Since he was a child, he had sensed that his father's actions were secretive; people of unknown identity often visited the mansion, and his brothers often went out for training, returning with traces of battle on them. He had long wanted to know the truth behind it all.

"Yu'er, do you know if there has ever been a dynasty in the history of the Hidden Dragon Continent that unified the entire continent?" Qin De did not reveal the answer directly; instead, he posed a question to Qin Yu, watching him closely to observe his reaction.

Qin Yu smiled slightly, understanding the question, and replied casually, "That goes without saying. A long time ago, the Hidden Dragon Continent was in a state of fragmentation, with various tribes and vassal states warring against each other, leaving the people in misery. It wasn't until a thousand years ago that the entire continent was unified for the first time. It was the Qin Dynasty that unified the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, and the name of the First Emperor Qin, Ying Zheng, still rings like thunder across the continent today! It is a pity that the Qin Dynasty was too short-lived; it fell apart within a hundred years of unification, and the Ying Clan of the First Emperor was hunted down by enemies until none remained."

Qin Yu had read many ancient texts since childhood and was well-versed in this history, but he had never imagined that this distant past could have any connection to him.

Qin De nodded slightly, his expression growing more solemn. He spoke slowly, each word striking Qin Yu's ears like a thunderclap: "The first secret I am telling you today is—our Qin Family is the direct descendant of the First Emperor Qin, Ying Zheng!"

"Boom!"

Qin Yu felt as if his head had been struck by a bolt of lightning. He froze in place, his mind went blank, and his face was filled with disbelief. He opened his mouth but could not make a sound, staring blankly at Qin De as if he had just heard a fairy tale.

The direct descendant of the First Emperor Qin?

That First Emperor who unified the Hidden Dragon Continent and whose achievements spanned the ages was actually his own ancestor?

After a long while, Qin Yu finally recovered from the shock. With a dry throat, he asked, "Father... is... is this true? Isn't the descendant of the First Emperor Qin supposed to have the surname Ying? We are clearly surnamed Qin!"

Qin De shook his head gently, a trace of sighing and indignation flashing in his eyes. "After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the lords and enemies of the world hunted down the Ying Clan everywhere, determined to exterminate them. To preserve the bloodline of the Ying, our ancestors had to hide their identities and change the surname 'Ying' to 'Qin.' This was done to evade the pursuit, and also to ensure that every generation of our Qin Family would never forget that our ancestor was the First Emperor Qin, and never forget the glory of the Qin Dynasty."