"What… what are you trying to do?" the blonde-haired woman asked in terror.
"Isn't it obvious? I, the Thick Earth Emperor, need to be resurrected, and for that, I require a body to serve as my vessel. Since I am a divine body, only another divine body can bear the honor of becoming my vessel!" The Thick Earth Emperor's tone was cold and indifferent.
In that instant, Qin Zi's entire body tensed, and his scalp tingled with fear. This old monster wanted to take over his body!
If it were some ordinary spirit, it wouldn't be a big deal. But this was the Thick Earth Emperor! With a figure of this caliber making a move, how could he resist?
"You… you can't kill me!" Qin Zi shouted in desperation, "My father is right outside! If you kill me, he won't let you get away with it!"
"Oh? Your father?" The Thick Earth Emperor sneered, his expression turning into one of mockery. "Do you really think your so-called father will save you…?"
"Who dares touch my son!!"
At that moment, a righteous and thunderous voice descended from the heavens, and an overwhelming power enveloped Qin Zi's body.
"Boom!"
The phantom of the Thick Earth Emperor was violently expelled from Qin Zi's body. Not only that, but the entire cave erupted, and the ground above was ripped open, transforming the entire area into a massive basin. Sunlight poured down from above!
"Father!"
"Brother Qin!"
Seeing the white-clad figure suddenly appear before them, both Qin Zi and the blonde-haired woman were overjoyed. A sense of unprecedented safety washed over them. As long as that figure stood there, even if the sky collapsed, they wouldn't be afraid!
"Your… your power?!" The Thick Earth Emperor's phantom stared at Qin Chuan in horror.
Moments ago, he had planned to reveal the truth about this young man's father to crush the young man's spirit. But now, he was too shocked and terrified to bother with that. The man standing before him radiated power far beyond what he had expected.
"Thick Earth Emperor, what a grand title!" Qin Chuan declared coldly, his voice filled with righteous indignation. "A mere remnant of your soul, not even a complete spirit, and you dare try to harm my son!"
His stance was commanding, exuding unparalleled authority.
Facing the legendary Thick Earth Emperor was of no concern—after all, he himself was now an unstoppable force surpassing a Martial Emperor!
Caught up in the moment, Qin Chuan fully embraced the persona he was portraying, even convincing himself of its truth.
"You… you…" The Thick Earth Emperor pointed at Qin Chuan, now laughing from sheer disbelief. He, the mighty Thick Earth Emperor, a peak existence, was being looked down upon, and his opponent was even displaying an air of moral superiority.
What hypocrisy!
What audacity!
The Thick Earth Emperor had hidden within the "Sutra of the Ten Directions of Thick Earth," existing in a half-dead state, but he was well aware of everything this man had done.
This man had been manipulating his son all along! Yet here he stood, presenting himself as a virtuous father and savior, rebuking him with righteous fury.
"Dead or not, you're just a leftover fragment of your former self. You should return to the dust where you belong!" Qin Chuan didn't give him a chance to retort. Anyone who knew the truth had to be swiftly suppressed.
"Boom!"
Once again, borrowing the power of a Martial Emperor, Qin Chuan struck forward with his palm. The sky trembled, and space itself shattered layer by layer.
"Crash!"
The very fabric of space collapsed, sending shards of reality scattering like broken glass, slicing through the surrounding landscape.
From the void, torrents of chaotic energy surged, roaring wildly like a tempest.
"Impossible! This can't be happening!" The Thick Earth Emperor's phantom screamed in panic. The power that had ejected him from Qin Zi's body earlier wasn't nearly this strong. It was as though he was facing an entirely different person.
"Earth Shield!" The phantom of the Thick Earth Emperor shone with blinding light as he attempted to defend himself. But the force he could muster was only barely at the threshold of a Martial Emperor's power.
Against the overwhelming strength of Qin Chuan's high-level Martial Emperor strike, the Thick Earth Emperor's defenses disintegrated. A massive golden hand grasped the phantom, enveloping him in terrifying lightning energy.
"No!"
The Thick Earth Emperor let out a shrill scream as his energy rapidly evaporated, his form weakening until he was barely clinging to existence.
"Seal!" Qin Chuan coldly commanded, and a transparent force encased the phantom, sealing it within his internal world.
Only after making sure the phantom was fully suppressed did Qin Chuan let out a sigh of relief. If the Thick Earth Emperor had revealed any secrets, the consequences could have been disastrous.
"Whoosh!"
At that moment, the Martial Emperor's aura around him ebbed away like a receding tide.
He calculated the time.
Three seconds!
Including the first time he had expelled the Thick Earth Emperor's remnant from Qin Zi's body, the total had been four seconds, costing him forty points of fatherhood value.
His second use of the "Martial Emperor Possession" ability had granted him the power of a high-level Martial Emperor. He had been incredibly fortunate.
Without that level of power, suppressing even a fragment of the Thick Earth Emperor would have been incredibly difficult. After all, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse.
"Father!" Qin Zi rushed over, his face brimming with joy at having narrowly escaped death. Just moments ago, he had been on the verge of dying. But his father had arrived just in time.
He felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. His father always appeared at the critical moments, saving him from disaster.
The blonde-haired woman watched, sighing softly as she wiped away a tear. She had shared life and death with Qin Zi for so long that Qin Chuan saving him also meant saving her.
Every time, it was this man who stood in front of her, protecting her from danger. How could her heart not be moved by such gestures?
As for how he always managed to show up at just the right time… that was something best not thought about too deeply. Dwelling on it would ruin the romance of the moment.
It was the inexplicable nature of his appearances that made them so touching.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"
At that moment, in the ruins of the cave, a pillar of light shot up from the now-dry spiritual pool.
It was a teleportation array.
"Father, what's that?" Qin Zi asked in surprise.
Qin Chuan's expression briefly twitched. The plan he had meticulously prepared had been completely derailed by the Thick Earth Emperor's interference.
Now that the "trap" had been revealed, he couldn't very well force Qin Zi to step into it. That would make his intentions too obvious.
So, he calmly replied, "It seems to be a teleportation array… If you ever come across a mysterious teleportation array while you're out in the world, don't rush to enter. It could transport you to a dangerous place."
After speaking, he waved his hand, destroying the teleportation array he had originally set up, thus eliminating the evidence.
After all, what if someone discovered a trace of him on it?
"Understood." Qin Zi nodded obediently. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he cried out, "My 'Sutra of the Ten Directions of Thick Earth!'"
The golden words within his body, left behind by the Thick Earth Emperor's remnant, began to dim and fade, as if they were losing their vitality and might vanish at any moment.
"Don't worry. I memorized it earlier. I'll pass it on to you." Qin Chuan raised a finger, and a golden light flew into Qin Zi's forehead, restoring the scripture.
The "Sutra of the Ten Directions of Thick Earth" was essential for Qin Zi. Without it, how could he fully inherit the karma of the Kun Emperor?
"Father, you're amazing!" Qin Zi exclaimed in delight, instinctively flattering his father.
"Oh, and I gathered a huge batch of rare spiritual herbs. Do you want some?" Qin Zi eagerly displayed the immortal herbs he had collected.
"You foolish child. These are yours. I would never take something that belongs to you." Qin Chuan smiled warmly, exuding fatherly kindness.
"Alright then." Qin Zi knew that his father never changed his mind once he made a decision, so he didn't press the issue.
"Let's head home." Qin Chuan said, waving his hand. A wave of energy enveloped Qin Zi and the blonde-haired woman, carrying them toward the direction of the Ziyun Region.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
The Thick Earth Emperor!
When he returned, he would make sure to properly deal with this matter, ensuring that the Emperor learned the consequences of causing trouble for him!