Want to use me as a stepping stone Be careful not to break your leg

"Hold on!"

Qin Zhantian took a step forward, blocking Qin Wuya and Qin Hao. Then, he turned to his father, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination:

"Father, agree to their terms."

The First Ancestor frowned slightly. He had been saving this dragon egg for himself. If they lost...

"Father, please believe in me! I will not lose!"

"Taking ten thousand steps back, even if I do lose, this dragon egg will still belong to our Qin family."

The First Ancestor fell silent for a moment before finally nodding slowly:

"Very well, since you've put it that way, I agree to use the dragon egg as a wager!"

Hearing their agreement, Qin Hao chuckled softly. Did he think he wouldn't lose? What a coincidence, I think the exact same thing.

Qin Hao cracked his neck, his joints popping loudly.

"This wager is barely enough to catch my eye. Since that's the case, I'll play along with you."

Saying this, Qin Hao walked right up to Qin Zhantian.

Qin Zhantian looked at Qin Hao, his gaze blazing like a torch:

"Don't be in such a rush, I still have one condition."

Hearing this, Qin Hao couldn't help but roll his eyes. Why did you have so many conditions?

"If you have something to say, spit it out!"

Qin Zhantian's expression shifted slightly at Qin Hao's abrasive tone. He coldly snorted and continued:

"This is a sleeping chamber, not a place for battle. The duel between the two of us will officially take place in three days at the martial arts arena."

At this point, the corners of Qin Zhantian's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a profound smile.

Waging a treasure possessing a complete opportunity of the Great Dao, he naturally wanted this battle to be known throughout the entire Qin family.

He wanted everyone to know that in three days, he, the first-generation Imperial Son, would duel Qin Hao, the current-generation Imperial Son.

He wanted all the members of the Qin family to see how he would utterly crush and defeat Qin Hao.

Qin Hao's eyes flickered, making a guess as to what Qin Zhantian was thinking. Was this guy trying to use him as a stepping stone to build momentum?

Interesting. You want to use me as a stepping stone? Then you'd better be careful not to break your leg!

Qin Hao looked at Qin Zhantian with a hint of mockery in his eyes:

"Alright, I promise you. In three days, let the whole family go to the martial arts arena to see how you..."

"...get beaten to the ground by me."

Qin Zhantian's face darkened slightly, but he quickly regained his composure:

"Then we shall wait and see."

The two locked eyes, their gazes clashing, as if sparks were flying in the air.

Qin Wuya stepped forward, grabbed Qin Hao by the collar, and hoisted him up.

Qin Hao, who had just been talking tough, instantly had his face fall.

"Dad, could you pay attention to the occasion? I'm being serious here," Qin Hao transmitted his voice to Qin Wuya.

Qin Wuya chuckled lightly. "If you have anything else to say, say it quickly. I'm in a hurry."

Hearing this, Qin Hao turned his head to look at Qin Zhantian:

"Qin Zhantian, was it? Get plenty of rest these next three days and eat some good food, because after all—"

Qin Hao smiled:

"In three days, you're going to be lying in bed for a very long time."

It was clearly a harsh threat, and Qin Hao said it with full momentum.

But he was being held by the collar by Qin Wuya, suspended in mid-air with his two legs dangling.

Such a comical appearance not only lacked any lethality but actually made people want to laugh.

"Pfft—"

Someone couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. Immediately after, the laughter spread rapidly through the crowd like a contagion.

Even with Qin Hao's thick skin, he couldn't help but blush.

He helplessly transmitted to Qin Wuya: "Dad, could you leave me a little face?"

Qin Hao pondered that in the future, when his strength grew, he would definitely use this old geezer as a yo-yo. He really had no dignity today.

Qin Wuya didn't care about all that. He directly utilized his divine power and left with Qin Hao.

After tossing Qin Hao back into his own courtyard, Qin Wuya vanished, who knew where to.

Sensing Qin Hao's return, Shen Suning immediately came to greet him:

"Haohao, what did Father want with you?"

Qin Hao waved his hand. "Nothing much. Just someone who wants to challenge me."

Qin Hao pinched Shen Suning's cheek and said with a smile.

"By the way, is that Star Body Forging Platform I had you use working well?"

Shen Suning nodded heavily. "It's truly miraculous. As expected of the foundation of an Ancient Aristocratic Family. At first, I thought the Star Body Forging Platform wouldn't help me much, but I never expected that in just a short month, my physical strength would improve so significantly."

"I am a cultivator in the Immortal King Realm! It's extremely difficult to improve my strength even a tiny bit. Your Star Body Forging Platform is really amazing, though the process is a bit painful."

Hearing this, Qin Hao raised an eyebrow. What? What did he just hear? Suning actually said the process was a bit painful. Qin Hao had thought she would really enjoy the process.

"Could it be that her certain trait is only displayed when she is facing me?"

Qin Hao stroked his chin, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. Interesting, I like her even more now.

"I don't want to break through my cultivation base just yet. Passing a Red Dust Tribulation would take a few months at the very least, and up to several years at most. It wouldn't make it in time for the duel. So what I need to do now is improve my physical strength."

"That Qin Zhantian has the Qilin bloodline, right? Heh, I don't care what kind of divine beast bloodline you have. In three days, go talk to my fists."

Qin Hao returned to the room, took off his outer robe to reveal his lean and muscular upper body, and then stepped onto the forging platform to cultivate.

As soon as he sat firmly, a majestic surge of star power descended from the sky and poured directly into his body.

Pain.

It was too painful.

Qin Hao felt as if countless fine needles were piercing into his body simultaneously. He panted heavily, gritting his teeth as he allowed this star power to remold his flesh.

Shen Suning stood to the side, resting her chin in her hands, staring unblinkingly at Qin Hao on the forging platform.

Sweat slid down Qin Hao's back. Under the effect of the star power, every muscle on Qin Hao's body was trembling, distinctly defined and full of explosive power.

Qin Hao gritted his teeth and endured it. His face bore a bit of pain, yet it also revealed an indescribable resilience.

Shen Suning's eyes went wide as she stared.

"So handsome..."

She muttered to herself, her gaze turning utterly captivated, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickening.

......

Under Qin Zhantian's deliberate promotion, the news that he was going to duel Qin Hao spread rapidly throughout the entire Qin family like it had grown wings.

The duel between the first-generation Imperial Son and the current-generation Imperial Son immediately attracted the interest of the clansmen.

Some people even specially opened gambling pools just for this, betting on which of the two would win.

"I bet four thousand high-grade spirit stones on the first-generation Imperial Son."

"I also bet one thousand high-grade spirit stones on the first-generation Imperial Son."

"I bet one hundred mid-grade spirit stones on the current-generation Imperial Son."

Various voices rose and fell in succession.

At the same time, at Qin Kexin's mansion.

Xiaolan noticed that ever since her young miss went to visit His Highness the Imperial Son, she had returned acting abnormal, constantly muttering inexplicable things.