Dongzhou, Canglan Imperial Capital.
The streets were packed shoulder to shoulder, hawkers and laborers coming and going without end. Shops and restaurants lined the roads in neat rows, making the whole place look busy, prosperous, and loud. In the main city district, there were mortals and cultivators alike.
At that moment, a young man in white with ink-black hair was strolling along the street, a dark-gold dragon-pattern folding fan in hand and blue-embroidered boots on his feet. Slick-haired and powdered-faced, he was strikingly handsome. He was truly a pretty young gentleman, and every now and then he would flash a wicked smile at the young women and married ladies on the roadside, drawing shrieks of delight in return.
That man was Qin Tian.
As he walked, Qin Tian smiled faintly in his eyes and came up to a girl who was staring at him with open infatuation. “Miss, may I ask how to get to Tianbao Merchant House?”
The little girl looked at the immortal-looking face right in front of her and her heart thudded uncontrollably. Her eyes sparkled. She had never seen a man this beautiful. Trembling, she lifted a finger and pointed in one direction. “Just go straight that way.”
“Thank you, miss.” Qin Tian nodded with a smile, then turned and left.
It had to be said that Qin Tian really had been born with an excellent face. Relying on that incredibly deceptive appearance, he had won over the hearts of many women. Even when he did bad things, he would be forgiven. There was no helping it, since he was so damn handsome.
Qin Tian soon arrived at Tianbao Merchant House. Tianbao Merchant House was famous throughout the entire Tiancang World, rich and powerful, with branches everywhere. The reason he had come here was that he had heard Tianbao Merchant House would be holding an auction in Canglan Imperial Capital two days later.
Well, what a coincidence. Lin Fan was in Canglan Imperial Capital too, and there was an auction. As a classic scene in fantasy novels, an auction was naturally the best place for the protagonist to go treasure hunting. Something of unknown origin would show up, the protagonist would buy it for a tiny price, and then discover that it was some inheritance or some priceless treasure.
Qin Tian was very familiar with these, these tired little tricks. So instead of searching for one person in this city of millions, it was better to lie in wait here and catch the rabbit as it came.
As soon as Qin Tian stepped inside, everyone else in the merchant house turned their eyes toward him. There was no helping it; his bearing and appearance were simply too eye-catching.
“I’d like to see your manager,” Qin Tian said, lightly tapping his folding fan against his palm as he addressed a woman.
“Y-Yes... sir, please come with me.” The shop girl blushed bright red and led Qin Tian upstairs.
She brought him to a luxurious room on the upper floor, then withdrew. This was the advantage of being a villain. If it were the protagonist, asking to see the manager would first require a full package of mockery before the treasure reveal and the posing.
Qin Tian did not wait long before an old man soon walked in. He smiled at Qin Tian and asked, “I am Tianbao Merchant House’s manager. May I ask what business you have with me, young sir?”
Qin Tian looked at him, then shook his head. “Not you. Have the one behind you come out and speak with me.”
The old man’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Qin Tian, just as he was about to speak, when a pleasant female voice cut him off.
“Uncle Hai, you may go out first. I’ll speak with this young sir alone.” A proper young lady stepped out from the doorway.
“Yes, young miss.” The old man bowed respectfully and left.
Qin Tian sized her up. She looked decent enough, but compared with Wu Bingchan and Hu Jiuli, she was far inferior. Her name was Wan Miaoling, and she was one of Lin Fan’s harem members, though one of the less important, peripheral female leads.
As had already been said, Qin Tian was not the sort of man who would take every woman he saw. Nor did he think that every female lead had to be stolen away. He was not so hungry he would swallow anything. As long as there was no relationship left between the female lead and Lin Fan, that was enough. There was no need to necessarily bed her.
Wan Miaoling sat across from Qin Tian and said, “I heard that a few days ago, a distinguished young sir came down from the Upper Realm to Heaven Sword Sacred Land. I imagine that must be you, sir.”
“You’re very well informed.” Qin Tian opened his fan and gave it a gentle wave.
“Sir, your bearing is too outstanding to belong to someone from the Lower Realm. Even if I didn’t know that you had come down from the Upper Realm, I would still know that you are no ordinary person,” Wan Miaoling said with a smile.
As the daughter of a merchant clan, she had been in contact with commerce since childhood, so the skill of speaking like a human to humans and like a ghost to ghosts was already instinctive. But Qin Tian really was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
“Your mouth is sweet. But this time I want Tianbao Merchant House to help me with something.”
“What is it?”
“Lin Fan.”
“You want us to deal with him, sir?” Wan Miaoling thoughtfully nodded. Lin Fan was a big name now. Everyone knew him, and everyone was searching for him so they could trade him to Heaven Sword Sacred Land for rewards.
“I don’t need you to do much. Just cooperate with me.” Qin Tian leaned in and quietly told her a few words.
After listening, Wan Miaoling nodded. “Since that Lin Fan is the young sir’s enemy, my Tianbao Merchant House will naturally help you. Please rest assured, young sir.”
[Ding~ Female lead Wan Miaoling has completely severed her fate with the protagonist Lin Fan. Host gains 1,000 villain points.]
Just as expected. A little female lead like this, one of those women the author added only to get the bed scene moving, really did not offer much profit. Severing the relationship outright only gave 1,000 points.
“Oh, right. Leave this in your Tianbao Merchant House and auction it for me.” Qin Tian took out a small bottle and placed it on the table.
Wan Miaoling asked curiously, “Sir, what’s inside?”
“Nothing much. Just a tenth-grade pill.”
“T-Tenth grade?!” Wan Miaoling stared at the jade bottle in shock, her voice stuttering.
A tenth-grade pill in the Lower Realm was something that existed only in imagination. If Tianbao Merchant House could auction one, not only would they make a huge profit, they would also greatly boost their reputation.
“I represent Tianbao Merchant House in thanking you, young sir! If you have any future instructions, my Tianbao Merchant House will do its utmost to assist you.” Wan Miaoling hurriedly expressed her loyalty, eager to cling to Qin Tian’s thigh.
Qin Tian smiled. “If I need anything, I won’t hold back. Arrange a place for me to stay first. I’ll remain here until the auction ends.”
Wan Miaoling quickly agreed and ordered her servants to arrange a separate small courtyard for Qin Tian. After seeing him off, Wan Miaoling entered another room and reported everything that had happened to the clan, leaving the matter for the family to decide.
“This tenth-grade pill can bring our Tianbao Merchant House unprecedented profit and prestige. This Young Master Qin cannot be offended.” That was the statement of one clan elder.
“Miaoling, Young Master Qin’s status is extraordinary. He handed you a tenth-grade pill so casually. Whatever happens, you have to think of a way to take him down!” That was Wan Miaoling’s father.
“Father, rest assured. When Qin Tian was in Heaven Sword Sacred Land, he even had the sacred land saintess Wu Bingchan serve him in bed. Clearly he is a lustful man. Your daughter is confident she won’t lose to Wu Bingchan.”
“Good, very good. Remember to serve Young Master Qin well and squeeze more benefits out of him. Maybe our Tianbao Merchant House can even expand into the Upper Realm. Hahaha.”
A bunch of old men were already imagining a beautiful future. Wan Miaoling smiled to herself. No one understood men better than she did. As long as she got the thing below moving, their brains would stop working. She was more than practiced at this. Otherwise, how could she, as a woman, have won the family’s approval? Her clients were absolutely infatuated with her.
At this time, on one of Canglan Imperial Capital’s streets, there was a young man in a black robe and mask, with a blood-red greatsword strapped to his back. A faint, savage aura radiated from him, causing people to keep their distance.
Lin Fan looked at the people who were afraid of him and curled his lips. This was exactly the effect he wanted. Only now did he finally have the bearing a protagonist should have.
He sneered inwardly. (Qin Tian! Wu Bingchan! You dog man and woman would never have guessed that not only am I not dead, I’ve actually turned misfortune into blessing and found myself a backer too!)
That day, after he had fainted in the cave, Lin Riyian had taken him back. Only then did Lin Fan realize that he actually had such an incredible father. He immediately cried and screamed, telling Lin Riyian exactly how Qin Tian had bullied him and how Wu Bingchan had been unchaste, naturally exaggerating many things in the process.
Lin Riyian was naturally furious beyond measure. Who was he?
Lin Riyian!
In the Tiancang World, he was someone nobody dared provoke. And now someone had bullied his son and even cut off the only rod of his line. How could he not be enraged?
“Hmph! What bullshit Upper Realm young master. Fan’er, don’t be afraid. Since he has come down to the Lower Realm, if he’s a dragon he has to coil up for me, and if he’s a tiger he has to crawl. Our Lin family does have people in the Upper Realm too! Our ancestor ascended to the Upper Realm a hundred years ago and has already established a sect there, with countless disciples, a great figure to whom millions bow their heads. If we kill this Qin Tian, what can the force behind him in the Upper Realm do about it? Hah.”
After hearing Lin Riyian’s words, the stars in Lin Fan’s eyes were almost overflowing. He envied and hated Qin Tian because of his background and noble status, but now he too had a background, and his status seemed no worse than Qin Tian’s!
That made his confidence surge back up. He felt like he could do it again.
Lin Riyian handed Lin Fan a manual and a blood-colored greatsword and said, “This is a technique our Lin family ancestor passed down from the Upper Realm: Blazing Thirteen Blades! One blade builds on the next, each one stronger than the last. You could call it blades of raging fire. Your father relied on this move to unleash thirteen consecutive strikes and cut down a fox demon at the peak of the Soul Condensation Realm!”
As he spoke, Lin Riyian proudly took out a tuft of pink fox fur and displayed his spoils.
Lin Fan took the manual and opened it with trembling hands. He already had psychological scars from this kind of thing, terrified he’d turn to the first page and see the words, "To practice this skill, you must first castrate yourself." But now he had nothing left anyway, so even if he really had to castrate himself, it would save trouble.
Lin Riyian patted Lin Fan on the shoulder. “Fan’er, don’t be discouraged. That Qin Tian is nothing more than your stepping stone. Your stage is in the much broader Upper Realm. Once you ascend there, with our ancestor looking after you, you will surely stand above the world in the future!”
After Lin Riyian’s brainwashing, even without his manhood, Lin Fan still straightened up. An aura of dominating the world radiated from him.
(That’s right, I am the protagonist! These hardships will only make me stronger. A mere Upper Realm rich brat? Once I ascend, I’ll make sure his whole family is wiped out! Hahaha.)
At this moment, Lin Fan had already sentenced Qin Tian’s entire family to death. A trace of malice flashed through his eyes.
If Gong Xiaoyue and Qin Huang heard that, they would probably die laughing.
Seeing his son stand tall again, Lin Riyian secretly nodded. He called himself a madman, and his son was only a little madman. He ought to have this sort of ferocity and confidence.
“Fan’er, let’s go see your mother.”
Lin Riyian led Lin Fan behind a waterfall. It turned out there was a cave hidden behind the waterfall. Inside the cave it was dark and damp, the walls covered in moss. In the deepest part sat a small earthen mound, and a tiny red flower had been planted there.
“This flower that looks like it’s about to wither is my mother?” Lin Fan pointed at the red flower before him and asked.
“Yes. She is your mother.” Lin Riyian stepped forward and gently stroked the petals. “Back then, I was ambushed by five Soul Condensation Realm experts. In that moment of crisis, it was Duor who sacrificed herself to let me break through into the Soul Transformation Realm!”
Uh... As a transmigrator, Lin Fan had long stopped being the unlucky child that Lin Riyian had originally had. When he arrived here, the original soul had already been devoured by him. As a modern transmigrator, calling Lin Riyian dad already left him pretty unhappy. In his eyes, this so-called Lin Riyian was nothing more than a cheap father, no different from a stranger. He only needed Lin Riyian’s help for the moment. But asking him to call a flower "mother" was a little hard for him to accept.
However, Lin Riyian did not seem to care about Lin Fan’s attitude. Over the next few days, Lin Riyian put Lin Fan through devilish training, using all kinds of heavenly treasures on him.
In just a few short days, Lin Fan had gone from the ninth level of Qi Refining to the sixth level of Bone Tempering. Combined with cultivating Blazing Thirteen Blades, his entire temperament had changed. He was now bold and arrogant, very much like a little tyrant.
As Lin Fan walked down the street, thinking back on everything that had happened during this time, he actually felt quite eager to see Qin Tian again. He wanted to use this Flame Blood Saber to hack him into eight pieces, and Lin Riyian had already promised that he would take care of the experts behind Qin Tian. What was there to be afraid of?
“Uh!” Lin Fan stopped at a roadside stall. Looking at a fan-shaped piece of iron on the stall, his heart stirred and he paused, browsing through the goods. He deliberately avoided looking at the fan-shaped iron piece, instead selecting other items.
(Hmph. If I just reach out and take it directly, he’ll definitely raise the price. I’m a transmigrator. I’ve seen this kind of plot in novels countless times. People like these natives not only have limited vision, they’re also stupid. Heh heh.)
Lin Fan laughed smugly in his heart. The routine of seeing an unrecognized treasure at a stall, pretending to choose other items, and then demanding that the true treasure be thrown in for free was something novels had long since worn out.
After browsing for a while, Lin Fan finally picked up a small tripod and asked, “Boss, how much for this?”
“Ten lower-grade spirit stones,” the stall owner said indifferently.
“That’s too expensive. Make it cheaper.” Lin Fan said it was pricey, but his eyes were already shining with the light of intelligence.
“Take it or leave it.” The stall owner’s answer remained flat.
“Ugh, forget it. I like this thing anyway. I’ll take it back as a decoration. Fine, I’ll buy this little tripod, and that iron piece can be thrown in too. I’ll take it back to prop up a table leg.” Lin Fan took the tripod and the iron piece together in his hand and handed over ten lower-grade spirit stones.
The stall owner sneered, glanced at him, and said, “This little tripod is ten lower-grade spirit stones. That iron sheet is three thousand lower-grade spirit stones.”
“What the hell do you mean? You’re selling this little iron piece for three thousand lower-grade spirit stones? Why don’t you just rob people!” Lin Fan roared.
The stall owner picked at his ear and said contemptuously, “If it’s too expensive, then put it down. Nobody’s forcing you to buy it.”
(What the fuck? This is not what the novels said.) Lin Fan was a little dumbfounded at this moment.
The stall owner sneered. He saw through this three-year-old-level trick at a glance and was just waiting for Lin Fan to show his fox tail. He’d been in this business for so long. Did Lin Fan really think he was an idiot?
Looking at the stall owner’s disdainful expression, Lin Fan was practically steaming from the top of his head, wanting nothing more than to slice him apart with a single knife!
But the market street was full of people, and killing someone in Canglan Imperial Capital was still somewhat troublesome.
“Here!” Lin Fan gritted his teeth and threw a pouch of spirit stones at the stall owner.
“Heh heh, I changed my mind. Now I want four thousand lower-grade spirit stones.” Seeing that Lin Fan was willing to buy it for three thousand, the owner figured this thing must be very important to him. Since he was willing to spend three thousand, then he definitely wouldn’t mind another four thousand.
“Bastard! You’re asking for death.” Malice flared in Lin Fan’s eyes, and his hand was already on his saber hilt, as if he was about to cut this ignorant native into pieces.
“What? You want to kill me? Think carefully. This is under the feet of Canglan Imperial Capital. Do you really think Canglan Army is paid to do nothing?” The stall owner had seen his share of storms and waves. In this line of work, the people you cheat are always outsiders.
“Fine! Here are four thousand lower-grade spirit stones.” Lin Fan squeezed the words out from between his teeth. Though he was not afraid of Canglan Imperial Capital, if this delayed the auction two days later, it would be troublesome. He memorized the stall owner’s face and would come back to settle accounts later.
“Heh heh, here you go. Come again next time.” The stall owner handed the iron piece to Lin Fan and, after taking the money, immediately packed up and left. He was an old hand. Which of the people he had cheated did not want to kill him?
And yet he was still living just fine.
[Ding~ The protagonist Lin Fan failed to show off. Fate value -500. Host villain points +1,000.]
“Hm? What the hell?” Qin Tian, who was on the bed fucking Ying Ji’s cunt, was suddenly thrown off by the prompt. What had happened to that unlucky kid Lin Fan this time?
“Mm~ Master~ don’t stop~ I want it~ fuck my wet hole harder~” Ying Ji was in the middle of it and Qin Tian’s sudden stop made her especially uncomfortable. She twisted her slim waist and swung her plump hips, starting to move on her own.
(Fine. What the hell is Lin Fan compared to fucking a cunt? Never mind him. Continue.) Qin Tian thought to himself, then slapped Ying Ji’s plump ass and smiled. “You big-ass slave, you’re really slutty.”
“I’m only slutty for Master~ In front of Master, I’m nothing but a shameless bitch. Master~ ah~ Master’s cock feels so good~” Ying Ji said coquettishly as Qin Tian fucked her, her body swaying back and forth.
Qin Tian chuckled and grabbed her plump ass with both hands before thrusting again and again. His huge cock mercilessly invaded Ying Ji’s tender pussy, splashing up waves of juice. Ying Ji’s body felt amazing from behind; every thrust that slammed into those big hips was soft yet springy, and whether visually or physically, it gave Qin Tian an extremely satisfying experience.
A few hours later, Ying Ji lay in Qin Tian’s arms with a satisfied look on her face, her head resting on his shoulder, her little hand drawing circles on his chest. Looking at Qin Tian’s side profile, she smiled and said, “Master is really too strong. I’m a little unable to keep up. Master should hurry and take down that big fox sooner, so you can have even more fun. I can see that Master really likes her.”
Qin Tian rested one hand on Ying Ji’s plump ass and said, “There’s plenty of time. Our purpose in coming to the Lower Realm isn’t to play with women.”
Ying Ji nodded, then asked in confusion, “About that Dragon Ancestor opportunity, why did Master say we had to rely on Lin Fan? We can’t find it even by mobilizing all of Heaven Sword Sacred Land, so how could he?”
“Do you know what fortune is?” Qin Tian pulled Ying Ji’s soft flesh onto his body and made her lie in his arms. Her sexy, fiery figure pressed against him like an expensive pillow, soft and comfortable.
Ying Ji found a comfortable position in Qin Tian’s arms and asked, “Does Master mean that Lin Fan has great fortune on him?”
The words fortune and destiny had always been vague and elusive since ancient times, impossible to grasp. Some people were born with tremendous fortune and could obtain supreme inheritances even in their dreams. Others had declining fortune and would suffer one minor illness after another. After continuous development and research in the Great Thousand Dao Domain, fortune had already reached the point where it could be controlled there.
So Ying Ji still had some understanding of fortune.
“Yes.” Qin Tian nodded and continued, “The fortune on Lin Fan has some relation to the Dragon Ancestor opportunity. The Dragon Ancestor is something that makes people in the Great Thousand Dao Domain go red-eyed, yet it appeared in the Lower Realm. And just so happens that Lin Fan has great fortune on him. That’s definitely not normal.”
“Master is amazing!” Ying Ji hugged Qin Tian, stars of worship shining in her eyes.
Qin Tian kissed her cherry lips and asked with a smile, “Amazing where?”
“Master is amazing everywhere!” Ying Ji kissed him back.
Qin Tian smiled helplessly. Usually he was stern and domineering, but the moment he got into bed he lost all composure. He could not bring himself to be cold toward his own women. Ying Ji only dared to talk to him like this in bed, but that was exactly what Qin Tian wanted. Everyone had their own role: outside the bed, Ying Ji was his guard and subordinate, someone who carried out his orders; in bed, she was his woman, and he did not mind being a little gentle and indulgent with her.
Qin Tian held Ying Ji in his arms and sat up. "Let's go out for a while. We can't stay cooped up here all day, and I happen to have a few things to do."
"Mm, Master, let me help you get dressed~" Ying Ji rose to her feet, carefully dressed Qin Tian, then pulled on her own tight black leather outfit and melted into Qin Tian's shadow.
As he walked, Qin Tian said to himself, "System, show me Lin Fan's opportunities in the Canglan Imperial City and anything involving the heroines or related items."
【Data listed:】
【Main-character opportunity item: the Ancient Heaven Sorrow Qin. Opportunity description: an ancient qin sealed away for years and ignored inside the Tianyin Pavilion, but in truth it is a broken imperial relic once used by the Qin Emperor. One song from it can change the color of heaven and earth, blot out the sun and moon, and kill without a trace. Because it is damaged and no one can make it sound, it has been gathering dust in the Tianyin Pavilion.】
Qin Tian raised an eyebrow. Damn, an imperial treasure?
This thing was seriously top-tier. If it fell into Lin Fan's hands, he would definitely be able to restore it completely later. However he managed it, the point was that the protagonist would eventually fix it anyway. For a protagonist, even a fall off a cliff could solve everything.
"System, can't you just give me every protagonist's full information and future plot line? Your features are a little incomplete, aren't they?" Qin Tian said. Sorting through them one by one was really a pain.
【System accepts the host's suggestion. After the host eliminates Lin Fan, the system will update. By then, the host will be able to know the birth and future trajectory of protagonists with complete omniscience.】
【As the host eliminates more and more protagonists, the system's functions will become more complete and more powerful. The host is encouraged to pay closer attention.】
Qin Tian nodded in satisfaction. That was more like it. With this, Lin Fan had yet another reason to die.
Qin Tian casually asked around and quickly found out where Tianyin Pavilion was. Inside the pavilion hall, men and women alike wore splendid clothes and carried refined, elegant auras. Most of them were people with a strong scholarly air.
Unlike the noisy streets outside, this place felt like another world entirely. Harps, flutes, pipa lutes, and all manner of instruments filled the hall, while incense curled through the air, giving it an ancient and graceful atmosphere.
Every so often, a stretch of guqin music would drift over as well, making it a place well suited to cultivating one's taste and appreciating music. Just as Qin Tian was looking around, a maid dressed in servant's garb approached him from behind.
"This young master has an extraordinary bearing. I suppose you must be a man of taste. May I ask whether you're here to buy an instrument? Our pavilion may not dare boast about anything else, but when it comes to instruments, we can absolutely call ourselves number one in Eastern Continent. If you need anything, I can introduce them to you~"
As she spoke, the young woman even threw Qin Tian a coy glance, her eyes practically saying, Take me, possess me, come on!
Qin Tian did not bother with this slut drooling over his looks and headed straight upstairs. Without looking back, he said, "I heard your Tianyin Pavilion has a qin that has never once been played soundly?"
"Young master is right. That strange ancient qin has been in our Tianyin Pavilion for a thousand years now, but no one has ever been able to play it. The old pavilion master once said that whoever could make it sound could take it away. But looking at it, I don't think anyone will ever be able to take it away," the woman explained as she followed behind Qin Tian.
(Lin Fan will probably come and play out a complete melody, then stun everyone. That's the usual kind of scene where the protagonist shows off, slaps faces, and gets a treasure.) Qin Tian thought to himself. Still, he was curious how exactly Lin Fan managed to make this ancient qin sound. All he could say was that, as expected of the protagonist.
"Young master, why don't we go look at the other instruments downstairs? This ancient qin is just a little too mysterious. It doesn't really suit a young master like you." The woman spoke very tactfully. Put bluntly, she was saying: You don't deserve it.
Qin Tian smiled faintly as if he had not heard a word she said, and kept his hand on the ancient qin.
"System, how many villain points does it take to make it sound?"
【Ding~ To play the Ancient Heaven Sorrow Qin and remove its seal requires 30,000 villain points.】
Qin Tian's mouth twitched. He had finally managed to win over Mu Bingchan, and the system had rewarded him with 30,000 villain points. Now it wanted all of it in one shot. Ruthless.
Still, it was at least an imperial-grade artifact. Worth it! "System, remove the seal on the Ancient Heaven Sorrow Qin."
【Ding~ Villain points -30,000, seal on the Ancient Heaven Sorrow Qin removed.】
Clang~ clang~ thunk~ Three clear notes rang out.
The woman stared in astonishment. She had not expected that the ancient qin which had not sounded for a thousand years would actually be played by this young master.
What's more, those three notes were pure, lively, and lingering. In terms of music alone, even the famous court musicians' masterpieces could not compare to them.
A dark glint flashed through Qin Tian's eyes. His fingertips rested on the strings, and notes began to pour out in a steady stream, echoing throughout Tianyin Pavilion. The people downstairs were all astonished beyond words.
"Why does it sound so beautiful? What kind of instrument is that?"
"The music is coming from upstairs. I just saw a young man go up there. Could it be that ancient qin that no one has been able to play for a thousand years?"
"No! I have to go take a look. Music like this should only exist in heaven!"
The crowd hurried upstairs one after another, all wanting to see just what kind of divine being was up there. When those young women and wives saw that it was such a handsome young master, they all screamed in excitement, like a bunch of brainless fans who had just seen their idol.
At that moment, Qin Tian was as if he were the only person left in the world. He could not hear the uproar outside, and his mind was completely immersed in the music.
High, soaring phrases and long, lingering ones intertwined into a murderous zither piece. The music actually carried killing intent, like a general standing on the battlefield and directing a hundred thousand troops, with mountains of corpses and fields of bones all around.
Everyone who heard it was horrified. A few timid ones had already gone weak in the knees and collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat, as though the mountain of corpses and sea of blood were right before their eyes.
Clang, clang, zing~ The melody suddenly changed, becoming sharp and ringing, rising and falling in waves, as if some vast power had dragged everyone present onto a real battlefield. Spears stood like forests, a million soldiers had already surrounded them, and that sky-rending killing intent pressed so hard that breathing itself became a luxury.
The music kept climbing higher. Not only inside Tianyin Pavilion, but within a radius of more than ten miles, everyone stared wide-eyed in terror and despair, because at that moment the million-strong army seemed to be surging toward them like a landslide and tidal wave, leaving nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Death was the only outcome.
The music continued, and that killing intent kept spreading outward, radiating across the entire Canglan Imperial City. At the same time, the ancient qin was quietly changing. The two broken strings rejoined themselves on their own, and the paint that had peeled away restored itself. It became radiant and brilliant. What now sat before Qin Tian was a simple, even plain ancient zither, unremarkable at a glance, yet in Qin Tian's hands it was like a dead object being reborn, its surface glowing softly with flowing light.
The music shook the heavens. No matter which direction they were in within Canglan Imperial City, everyone turned to look toward Tianyin Pavilion. All of them were shocked and baffled.
Qin Tian's moving fingers came to a stop. His eyes cleared, and he woke from that state of self-forgetting. The music ended, but the entire venue remained silent. Everyone looked as though their souls had been ripped away, their clothes soaked through with sweat, as if they had truly endured a slaughter by tens of thousands of troops. Each of them was still shaken, as though they had barely survived death.
"I want this ancient qin."
After leaving those words behind, Qin Tian vanished from in front of everyone. That one performance of his caused a huge uproar, and countless old monsters came out of seclusion to investigate, all hoping to seize the ancient qin.
【Ding~ Congratulations, host, you have obtained the protagonist's opportunity item, the Ancient Heaven Sorrow Qin, a supreme imperial artifact. Villain points +10,000】
【Ding! The protagonist has lost the key item, the Ancient Heaven Sorrow Qin. Heavenly fate points -1,000】
Qin Tian stood on a rooftop and looked at the already unsealed ancient qin in his hand, now dazzling and exquisite, glowing with flowing brilliance. He curled his lips and said, "System, how many fate points does Lin Fan have left? After I've milked him this much, he can't have much left, right?"
【Ding~ He's almost out. Protagonist Lin Fan now has fewer than 1,000 fate points】
"Heh. I hope he still has enough luck to find the ancestral dragon opportunity site." After saying that, Qin Tian stepped forward and disappeared from where he stood.
Two days later, Tianbao Trading House auction.
Inside the splendidly decorated auction hall of Tianbao Trading House, every seat was already filled. Everyone wore embroidered silk robes and carried extraordinary bearing, their spiritual power surging through them. Most were at the Mystic Core realm, representatives of somewhat well-known sects from Eastern Continent, or loose cultivators.
At the auction house entrance.
"Where did this beggar come from, thinking he can just waltz into Tianbao Trading House's auction? Why don't you piss on yourself and look in a mirror? Are you even worthy?"
"Exactly. A beggar should have the self-awareness of a beggar. Stop daydreaming all day long. This isn't a place you can come to."
The guards at the entrance were looking at the filthy black-robed figure wearing a mask with naked disdain and mockery. With the way he looked, calling him a beggar was not wrong at all.
This man was Lin Fan. At the moment Lin Fan's mood was terrible. Not only had his attempt to show off failed, he had also been cheated out of a huge sum of money. He looked at the guards and secretly started circulating his spiritual power, clearly ready to draw his blade and cut someone down if they said another word.
"Call your manager out here. I have a treasure with me. If you delay this, it will be a huge loss for your Tianbao Trading House. If you're smart, get out of the way immediately!"
"Pfft. You want to see our manager?" The guard snorted, looking at Lin Fan like he was an idiot, and kept mocking him. "Do you know who goes in there? The lowest of them are all sect heirs, every single one either rich or powerful. Letting you in would only stain their eyes."
"You're asking for death!" A trace of murderous fury flashed through Lin Fan's eyes, and he was about to draw his blade and strike.
"Who is making noise outside?" At that moment, a voice interrupted Lin Fan, and Old Hai walked out.
The guard hurriedly bowed as soon as he saw him. "Greetings, Manager Hai."
Seeing the Tianbao Trading House's manager come out, Lin Fan could not just suddenly start killing people anymore. He snorted and said, "Is this how Tianbao Trading House receives honored guests?"
After speaking, he tossed a stone to Old Hai and said arrogantly, "Read it first, then talk to me about whether I have the qualifications to go in!"
Old Hai glanced at the stone in his hand and then tossed it away, turning around and saying, "Where did this beggar come from, trying to bluff me with a broken rock? Throw him out!"
Lin Fan froze again.
Something was wrong again!
This stone had been given to him by Lin RiTian, who said it was a lava fire crystal stone and worth a fortune.
Lin Fan was furious!
He picked up the stone and shouted at Old Hai, "Old man, are you fucking blind? This is a lava fire crystal stone. Open your damn eyes and look clearly!"
"What crazy bastard? It's just a broken stone picked up off the roadside. If you don't leave now, we'll stop being polite!" After saying that, Old Hai no longer bothered with Lin Fan and walked inside.
With Old Hai's eye, he naturally could tell that it really was a lava fire crystal stone, valuable and rare. But compared to a lava fire crystal stone, currying favor with Qin Tian mattered far more.
Lin Fan was practically going insane now!
He felt like the entire world was targeting him. Why was everyone refusing to follow the script?
Shouldn't it have been that once I took out the lava fire crystal stone, Tianbao Trading House would immediately treat me as an honored guest, arrange a private room for me, serve me good food and drink, then use the lava fire crystal stone to offset all the treasures I won at auction, and after that let me get acquainted with the beautiful female manager who serves as the auctioneer? That's the normal script!
But now, he could not even get through the door. What was he supposed to do?
Qin Tian was in the VIP private room area on the third floor. Spirit energy misted through the air, spirit herbs covered the floor, and ornate beams and carved rafters filled the room. A special formation isolated it from the outside world. This was the true domain of the powerful sects and the imperial family.
Qin Tian looked down from upstairs and watched Lin Fan rage helplessly, and he found it funny. I won't even let you through the door. Let's see how you get your opportunity.
The auction proceeded as scheduled. As for whether Lin Fan had managed to get in or not, Qin Tian no longer cared. That little stunt had already earned him quite a bit of villain points.
What came from the lower realm was nothing worth Qin Tian's attention. The things that others fought over to the death were, in his eyes, no different from trash.
Just as Qin Tian was growing bored, Wan Miaoling's voice came from outside the private room.
"Young master~ I have something I want to discuss with you. May I come in?"
Qin Tian frowned. This woman was really a handful. He had already given her a ten-tier pill, which was an enormous fortune to Tianbao Trading House, and she still wasn't satisfied? Did she really think he was some easy mark?
"Come in," Qin Tian said, sounding somewhat impatient.
When Qin Tian saw Wan Miaoling, he raised an eyebrow. This woman clearly had some ideas. At the moment, she had put on exquisite and understated makeup, and her clothes were outrageously bold. Several strips of sheer gauze hung off her body, barely covering anything. With every sway of her body, huge swathes of pale skin and cleavage flashed into view.
Wan Miaoling walked up to Qin Tian and actually sat down straight on his lap. She smiled seductively, pressed her chest against his, took Qin Tian's hand, and placed it on her waist. Her eyes were full of springtime desire, and her voice was alluring.
"Young master~ I already know that you aren't interested in this kind of childishly small auction, so let me help you pass the time~"
As she spoke, she leaned down, bit his earlobe, and began to lick and suck on it wetly.
Qin Tian narrowed his eyes. This slut really knew how to play. With a setup like this, anyone with even a little less willpower would end up as Wan Miaoling's captive under her skirt.
But Qin Tian did not fall for that trick. He pushed her away, gripped her shoulders with both hands, and smiled. "You're offering your body to me. What do you want from me in return?"
A spark flashed in Wan Miaoling's eyes as she cried inwardly, This is working!
She put on a look of reserved modesty, puckered her lips, and said coquettishly, "I don't want anything. The moment I saw you, Young Master, I was helplessly in love with you. I only want to receive your favor, and I'll be satisfied."
Qin Tian still wore that harmless, warm, and refined smile. "But I want you."
A proud look flashed through Wan Miaoling's eyes. She wrapped her arms around Qin Tian's neck and shyly said, "Young master, you're so bad, but I like it so much. What do you want from me? I can satisfy anything, Young master~"
"I want your blood essence!" The look in Qin Tian's eyes turned cold, stripped of all emotion.
The aura around him changed dramatically as well. His original gentle, elegant, and polished bearing began to turn dark and despairing, transforming into a terrifying tide that swept in all directions.
At this moment Qin Tian was like an ancient god, pressing down so heavily that no one could breathe.
A mass of black mist spread out from behind Qin Tian and completely sealed off the area, as if they had entered another world. The sky was collapsing, the earth was splitting apart, and the entire universe looked like a shattered mirror with spatial rifts everywhere, all of it shrouded by a pitch-black, icy, and horrifying mist.
Within the black mist behind Qin Tian, Wan Miaoling saw a blurry figure, as if something unimaginably terrifying was lurking inside.
"You... y-you... Young master..." Wan Miaoling was terrified. She collapsed to the ground, her body shaking uncontrollably from fear. She had only glanced once, yet her soul had nearly been devoured. She looked at Qin Tian in complete horror, all color drained from her face.
Qin Tian out a hand and pressed it onto the crown of her head. With a squeeze of his fingers, Wan Miaoling's face suddenly twisted into a hideous grimace, and she withered away at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Qin Tian casually tossed Wan Miaoling's dried-up corpse onto the floor. From beginning to end, his expression never changed; he remained as cold as ever, as if Wan Miaoling were nothing more than food to him, no different from livestock meat.
He licked his lips. Wan Miaoling was too useless; draining her gave Qin Tian no improvement at all. Still, the feeling itself was pretty good.
Qin Tian closed his eyes and lifted his head. The black mist around him withdrew back into his body, and the temperature in the room began to rise. When Qin Tian opened his eyes again, his aura had returned to being warm and refined, pleasant as a spring breeze. A smile played at the corner of his lips, and his gaze was lively and clear.
With a casual wave of his hand, he turned the corpse on the floor to dust, then went back to watching the auction as if nothing had happened.
As the auction grew more and more intense, Qin Tian still did not see the tenth-grade pill he had given away. It seemed Tianbao Commerce had simply put it into their own collection. Qin Tian did not care. To him, something like that was no different from candy pellets, the sort of thing he would not even bother picking up if it fell to the ground.
In the end, the auctioneer brought out a fan-shaped piece of iron and said, “This was discovered by our Tianbao Commerce in a secret realm. It seems to carry some very mysterious power, but no one has been able to unlock it, so we thought we’d see whether we could meet the person fated to have it. Starting bid: 1,000 spirit stones. Each raise must be at least 300 spirit stones.”
Qin Tian suddenly took interest. No matter how he looked at it, this was clearly something prepared for the protagonist. “System, can this thing be appraised?”
[Beep~ Requires 5,000 villain points.]
“So expensive?” Qin Tian frowned and thought for a moment, then asked, “Is there only one of these?”
[There are four pieces total. This is only one of them.]
“Is it related to the Ancestral Dragon?”
[300 villain points……]
Qin Tian curled his lip. This system was really stingy to the bone. “Tell me.”
[The key to opening the Ancestral Dragon Lands.]
“That’s it?” Qin Tian rolled his eyes. “You make villain points way too easy to earn.”
“3,000 spirit stones.” A voice came from below at that moment. Someone had placed a bid.
Qin Tian looked toward the source of the voice and smiled. Lin Fan really did have the protagonist’s fate; even this had let him get inside. But judging by the look of it, Lin Fan knew what this thing was for, which meant he must have one on him too. Qin Tian was already considering whether to snatch it from him. But after thinking it over, even if he had the key, he might not be able to find the place. In the end, he still had to rely on Lin Fan as a treasure-hunting mouse.
After figuring that out, he no longer wanted to stay. He quietly planted a strand of spiritual power on Lin Fan. That way, as long as Lin Fan did not run off to another world, Qin Tian could sense his presence at any time.
Compared with Lin Fan, what he missed more were the mother and daughter still waiting for him back in the wooden hut. Mother and daughter with those huge breasts, who could resist them?
But just then, Lingxiao flew out from the Soul-Nurturing Jade and said, “Young master, that man has the same fiery aura on him as the wound on Fox Nine Li.”
“Oh?” Qin Tian raised a brow. With Lin Fan’s current level of strength, there was no way he could have killed Fox Nine Li, and the timing did not line up either. That point would need to be verified.
“He is Lin Fan,” Qin Tian said with a smile.
“What? But why can’t I sense it?” Lingxiao looked down at the black-clothed man in surprise.
As Lin Fan’s former master, she was very familiar with his aura, and her soul power was powerful. There was no way Lin Fan should have been able to hide from her perception.
“He has another chance at fortune. He should have some treasure on him that blocks detection. But since he has the same fiery aura as Nine Li, we can’t ignore it.”
“5,000 lower-grade spirit stones. I want this thing.” Qin Tian spoke.
“Damn it!” Lin Fan below cursed inwardly. He had originally been determined to get it, and then someone had to jump out and spoil everything.
“6,000 lower-grade spirit stones.” Lin Fan could only keep raising the price.
He had gotten one of these fan-shaped iron pieces from Lin Rantian and bought another from a street stall. He had come this time precisely for this thing. Only he knew that these fan-shaped iron pieces were actually a treasure map. If he could gather all four, he would obtain an unrivaled treasure. He had not even told Lin Rantian about this secret.
(This treasure is mine! No one is taking it!) Lin Fan roared in his heart.
“10,000 lower-grade spirit stones.” Qin Tian kept bidding.
“Bastard! Who is it? If you’ve got the guts, get your ass out here!” Lin Fan was furious. He drew the great blade behind him, and a domineering, scorching aura erupted from his body, ferocious beyond measure.
“If you don’t have money, then don’t come here and make a fool of yourself.” Qin Tian slowly walked out of the private room and said.
“It’s you! You’re asking for death.” The instant Lin Fan saw Qin Tian, his eyes went blood-red. With a boom, he gripped his blade in both hands and shot forward, slashing straight for Qin Tian’s head.
His beloved woman had been stolen, his master had been tricked away, and even his own cock had been ruined by Qin Tian. Before Qin Tian appeared, everything had gone smoothly for him. Though he had been a waste for three years, after Lingxiao awoke, he had risen straight to the heavens. He not only entered the Heaven Sword Sacred Land, but also met a goddess-level beauty like Wu Bingchan, and their relationship had progressed well enough that marrying her in the future was only a matter of time.
But ever since Qin Tian appeared, everything changed. Everything was gone. He hated Qin Tian so much he had nearly fallen into demonhood. That was also why his cultivation of the Flame Thirteen Blades had advanced so quickly, because flames of fury were always burning in his heart!
Qin Tian sneered. “Overestimating yourself.” Then he stepped out and vanished from where he stood. His long, fair hand turned to white jade and collided with Lin Fan’s great blade.
A thunderous roar immediately exploded through the auction hall. The floor shattered, the walls collapsed, and both men’s auras were terrifying beyond belief.
Qin Tian deliberately suppressed his cultivation. He wanted to see just how much the protagonist Lin Fan was worth. His hands turned to white jade, the Immortal Qin Great Scripture circulated within him, and his hands blurred with motion like a thousand-armed arhat, striking at Lin Fan.
A blaze of fury erupted in Lin Fan’s eyes. He dragged his blade across the floor, and flames instantly ignited along the blade. He roared, “Flame Thirteen Blades!”
The instant blade and hands collided, Lin Fan’s heart sank. He discovered that Qin Tian’s hands were not only impervious to swords and blades, but also possessed shocking force. He had cultivated Lin Rantian’s Flame Thirteen Blades, following the path of overwhelming force to crush all skill, one slash able to split mountains and sever seas. Yet now he was being suppressed by Qin Tian through sheer physical strength alone.
Qin Tian’s hands were unfathomable, his fists, palms, fingers, and claws forcing Lin Fan back step by step. Lin Fan could not see the trajectory of Qin Tian’s attacks at all. He was struck with shock and terror, the hair on his body standing on end, his face full of disbelief.
“It’s impossible! How can you possibly be stronger than my Flame Thirteen Blades!”
“Hmph. You dare show off such petty tricks in front of me?” Qin Tian’s gaze was icy, his tone dismissive.
He had lost all interest in playing with Lin Fan. Lin Fan was far too weak. The Immortal Qin Great Scripture surged, Qin Tian clenched his left hand into a fist, and the punch blasted the air with a sonic crack. Lin Fan was horrified and tried to dodge, but Qin Tian’s blow was heavy and overwhelming, crushing forward like a force that could grind everything to dust. It gave Lin Fan no time to evade at all. The punch slammed into his chest, and in an instant a huge depression appeared there. Crushed organs mixed with blood sprayed out as if it cost nothing.
His face turned as pale as paper, and he flew out like a broken sack of burlap, smashing into the wall so hard he could not be pried off it.
Qin Tian no longer bothered with him. He stored Lin Fan’s great blade into his spatial ring and left. As for that iron piece, he casually tossed it into Lin Fan’s clothes.