When you ran into trouble, why didn't you tell me earlier

With a thought, Qin Hao took out the Nine-Turn Exquisite Pagoda from his system space. Feeling the powerful pressure released from the pagoda's body, Qin Hao held the pagoda in one hand and placed the other behind his back:

"Haha, please call me Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Hao from now on."

"Store!"

After storing the Nine-Turn Exquisite Pagoda into his dantian, Qin Hao called up his information panel.

[Name: Qin Hao]

[Identity: Emperor Son of the Ancient Qin Family]

[Karmic Luck: Two Dou and Five Sheng (Frequent encounters with fortuitous opportunities, assisted by noble figures)]

[Cultivation: First Level of the Soul Formation Realm]

[Physique: Dual Pupils, Innate Dao Body, Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, Heavenly Phoenix Divine Body]

[Treasures: Nine Tribulations Sword, Soul-Devouring Banner, Void Emperor Robe (Imitation), Primordial Luck-Plundering Stele, Nine-Turn Exquisite Pagoda.]

[Divine Abilities: Grand Void Sword Art, Immemorial Dragon Emperor Avatar (Thirty-one breaths), First Sword of Absolute Beginning.]

After reading his information panel, Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Even though my karmic luck is only at Two Dou and Five Sheng, it's already enough to frequently encounter fortuitous opportunities and receive help from noble figures."

"Moreover, Qingyue obtained the legacy of the ancient Sword Ancestor and learned his divine ability, the First Sword of Absolute Beginning. I simply coasted to victory and mastered this divine ability as well."

Looking at the dozens of divine abilities his cheap father had thrown to him, Qin Hao began to ponder how to distribute them among Su Qingyue and the others.

"Qingyue majors in the Dao of Sword. She has a cold exterior but a warm heart, so she needs to balance slaughter and protection."

"Lingxi possesses the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, so her divine abilities should lean toward the support type."

"As for Xinyao, the Heavenly Phoenix Divine Body is domineering, and she herself is a bit tsundere. She is suited for grand, wide-open moves that possess unparalleled power while highlighting her prestigious status."

Having made his decision, Qin Hao categorized the divine abilities and packed them into three separate spatial rings.

For Su Qingyue, Qin Hao directly arranged for someone to deliver it to the Profound Heaven Holy Land. As for Jiang Xinyao, Qin Hao worried that given her strength, if he were to appear before her right now, he might get tied up by her and never escape. Thus, it would be better to personally hand it to her at the Qin Family Ancestor's longevity banquet in half a month.

As for that little fool Xia Lingxi, Qin Hao planned to go over and see her in person. He wondered if that little fool had found her Crown Prince brother yet.

...

Southern Region, Great Cang Kingdom, inside a remote mountain cave.

"Lingxi, leave me be and run for your life. I only hate that I couldn't see through the conspiracy of the Gong family's father and son earlier, and even nearly pushed you into the fire pit. Thank goodness for Brother Qin, otherwise I truly wouldn't know how to face you."

Xia Lingxi continuously channeled spiritual energy into Xia Yang to treat his injuries.

"Brother, stop talking. I can't possibly abandon you. You are my only relative left. If you die, how am I supposed to live?"

Xia Yang gently wiped the tears from the corners of Xia Lingxi's eyes.

"Go find Brother Qin Hao. As a Dual Pupil possessor, his background is extraordinary. For such a proud son of heaven to be willing to protect you for a month, he definitely holds some affection for you. Even if you can't be his Dao companion, becoming a maidservant by his side is still better than staying here to wait for death with me."

Just as Xia Yang was desperately persuading Xia Lingxi to leave him behind and flee alone, a deep voice echoed across the entire mountain range.

"Xia Yang! Xia Lingxi! You two sinners of the Great Cang Kingdom, come out and face your deaths immediately! If this King has to find you himself, it won't be so easy for you to even beg for death!"

Hearing this voice, Xia Yang trembled all over. "It's Third Imperial Uncle! It seems these uncles of ours won't rest until we are dead!"

Xia Yang took a deep breath, a look of absolute determination appearing on his face. "Lingxi, you go first. Your brother will lure these people away for you."

Xia Lingxi stood perfectly still. "Neither of us will die. I still have one chance to call for help. Originally, I wanted to wait until I reached the pinnacle of the entire Southern Region before contacting him. But now, it seems I can only contact him early."

Thinking this, a wave of sorrow washed over Xia Lingxi's heart. She didn't know if she would ever be able to see Qin Hao again after using up this chance.

Just as Xia Lingxi's fingertips trembled slightly, about to trigger the soul brand within her sea of consciousness, a warm hand gently pressed onto her shoulder.

"Little fool, why didn't you call me earlier when you ran into trouble?"

A gentle voice, tinged with a hint of teasing, rang in Xia Lingxi's ears like heavenly music.

Xia Lingxi's delicate body trembled. She abruptly turned around, and what met her eyes was that handsome face she had dreamed of and traced countless times in her sleep.

"Qin, Qin Hao!"

Xia Lingxi looked at Qin Hao with disbelief in her eyes. She hadn't even activated the soul brand yet, but Qin Hao had appeared on his own!

Qin Hao chuckled softly and shook his head, then gave Xia Lingxi's forehead a hard flick.

"How about it? Do you believe it's me now?"

Being flicked on the head by Qin Hao again, Xia Lingxi clutched her forehead. A tremendous sense of pleasant surprise enveloped her completely. She opened her arms, leaped with all her might, and hung her entire body onto Qin Hao.

"It's really you, Qin Hao! Why are you here?"

Qin Hao rubbed Xia Lingxi's little head. "I was worried about you, so I came over to take a look."

Hearing these words, Xia Lingxi immediately pouted. With teary eyes, she buried her head into Qin Hao's neck, and then, catching him off guard, she bit down hard on his neck.

Qin Hao gasped in pain. "Are you a dog? Why are you biting me out of nowhere?"

Xia Lingxi choked back a sob. "I just missed you too much."

Qin Hao's lips twitched. "This is how you express your longing? As expected, I shouldn't hold out too much hope for your intelligence."

Xia Yang, who was watching from the side, smiled at this scene. "Brother Qin, we meet again. Hurry and take Lingxi away. I will cover your retreat."

Qin Hao glanced at Xia Yang and casually tossed him a bottle of pills.

"Your injuries aren't light. Take this first. As for those small fries outside, just leave them to me."

Hearing this, Xia Yang hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

"You mustn't, Brother Qin. Just taking Lingxi away is enough. You absolutely cannot put yourself in danger. The person outside is my Third Uncle, a Great Ascension Realm cultivator. Are you confident you can take him?"

Hearing this, Qin Hao paused his footsteps. "Great Ascension Realm? Perfect, let him become the first tenant of my Soul-Devouring Banner."

After saying that, Qin Hao flashed out of the cave in an instant.

Xia Yang wanted to follow him, but Xia Lingxi grabbed him to hold him back.

"Brother, Qin Hao is very powerful. With him here, he can definitely beat down all those people outside!"

Outside the cave, the Third Uncle of the Xia siblings was still yelling at them to give up their resistance.

"Where is that dog barking coming from? It's so noisy. Can you quiet down a bit?"

Qin Hao's lazy voice, laced with obvious impatience, was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, instantly bringing Xia Yun's curses to an abrupt halt.

Xia Yun furrowed his brows tightly and looked at Qin Hao with some wariness. This person dared to curse him? Could he be the backer of Xia Yang and his sister?

But when he felt the Soul Formation Realm aura radiating from Qin Hao's body, the look of shock and suspicion on Xia Yun's face was instantly replaced by gloominess and anger.

"Where did this reckless brat come from? A mere first level Soul Formation Realm cultivator dares to act so presumptuously in front of this King!"