130: Chapter 130 Meeting Han Qingcang
"Great-grandfather." Han Qingyue bowed respectfully. Han Ming followed suit and bowed as well.
Martial God Han Qingcang set down his teacup, his gaze landing on Han Ming. His eyes were as calm as water, yet they seemed to be able to see through everything.
A moment later, a satisfied smile appeared on his face: "Not bad. A 19-year-old 3-Star Martial Emperor, who has also comprehended two types of Profound Truths, and can challenge a Martial Venerable with the strength of a Martial Emperor—you are far stronger than your Great-grandfather was at your age."
Han Ming's pupils constricted sharply, and a storm surged in his heart. Hadn't he already used the System to hide his cultivation?
How did this Great-grandfather know?
Could a Peak Martial Saint really be this powerful? Even more awesome than the System?
Beside him, Han Qingyue's eyes widened suddenly, and she looked at Han Ming in disbelief.
"Mar... Martial Emperor? Two types of Profound Truths? And challenging a Martial Venerable with the strength of a Martial Emperor? How is that possible? Isn't he an 8-Star Martial Ancestor?"
"How... how did you discover it?" Han Ming's throat felt dry, and his voice trembled. Without realizing it, the clothes on his back had already been soaked with cold sweat.
"No need to be nervous. The Concealment Technique you Cultivate is quite good; even I couldn't see through it." Martial God Han Qingcang noticed Han Ming's nervousness and said with a faint smile.
His words seemed to possess a special magic that could soothe the spirit. Han Ming's tense emotions relaxed instantly.
"The reason I know is because I left a strand of my Divine Thought on the defensive jade talisman you carry. When you encounter danger, it can trigger a strike with eighty percent of my power the moment the talisman shatters."
"It is the final safeguard I gave you. Even an 8-Star Martial Saint, if caught off guard, would be severely injured if not killed. It was during your battle with that Black Wind Demon Venerable that the Divine Thought I left on it sensed your aura." Martial God Han Qingcang saw Han Ming's confusion and explained with a smile.
Han Ming was the most talented existence in this generation of the Han Family, with hopes of even reaching the Martial God Realm. Knowing that the Li Family and the Blood Demon Alliance were eyeing them covetously, how could he not have left some countermeasures?
Hearing this, Han Ming suddenly realized. He had wondered how a Martial Saint could see through the System's concealment. It turned out the issue was with that jade talisman. At the same time, he felt a bit uncomfortable.
No one likes being monitored by others, especially someone like him who has secrets. Furthermore, when he was being intimate with Ji Lingyue, hadn't this old man seen it too? Thinking of this, Han Ming's expression darkened slightly.
Martial God Han Qingcang seemed to see through his thoughts, smiling faintly and saying: "You don't need to be nervous. When the jade talisman's defense isn't activated, my Divine Thought remains dormant."
"Besides, everyone has secrets. That you could reach this step at your age is your Opportunity. The Han Family will not pry, nor will we covet it."
"I called you here today mainly to see just how outstanding my great-grandson is. Tianxiong has raised a good grandson!" Martial God Han Qingcang picked up his spirit teacup and took a sip, his eyes filled with gratification.
"Thank you, Great-grandfather!" Hearing this, Han Ming finally let out a sigh of relief and bowed to Martial God Han Qingcang in gratitude.
Martial God Han Qingcang waved his hand, signaling Han Ming to sit. Han Qingyue was still standing blankly to the side, her mind echoing with the information: "Martial Emperor," "Profound Truth," and "challenging a Martial Venerable."
A 19-year-old Martial Emperor—one couldn't find a second one in the entire history of the Great Xia Alliance. Her gaze toward Han Ming was filled with shock. She had always thought Han Ming was only an 8-Star Martial Ancestor, just one small Realm higher than her, and that she could catch up with a bit of effort.
Now she realized that he was already an existence she had to look up to.
"Calling you back this time actually involves another matter I want to ask your opinion on. The Gu Family says they want to make up for the regrets of the past by betrothing Gu Lingxi to you, forming a marriage alliance with our Han Family. What do you think?" Martial God Han Qingcang ignored the dazed Han Qingyue beside them and looked at Han Ming to ask.
Han Ming was stunned for a moment. The Gu Family? Gu Lingxi? Gu Qingcheng had broken off the engagement and abandoned his grandfather back then, leaving his grandfather with no place to stand in the Magic Capital, forcing him to flee to Jiangbei and live incognito for decades.
He hadn't even settled this score with the Gu Family yet, and now the Gu Family was coming to him first. Now that they saw his talent, they wanted to curry favor again, hoping to use a marriage alliance to wipe away the old debts? How could that be possible?
Although Gu Lingxi's talent was decent and she was beautiful, compared to the humiliation his grandfather suffered back then, she was worthless. "Impossible. I cannot afford to have a woman from the Gu Family. They are just a bunch of profit-seeking scoundrels!" Han Ming's eyes grew cold, and he refused without even thinking about it.
"Not bad. You are worthy of being a descendant of me, Martial God Han Qingcang." Martial God Han Qingcang nodded with satisfaction upon seeing Han Ming's reaction.
He knew the thoughts of that old guy from the Gu Family all too well. It was just seeing Tianlin break through to 7-Star Martial Saint, the Han Family's strength greatly increasing, and Han Ming possessing such talent, so they wanted to use Gu Lingxi to form a marriage alliance with Han Ming.
This way, they could not only eliminate the rift between the Gu and Han families from decades ago but also secure a son-in-law with hopes of breaking through to the Martial God Realm. They were calculating right in his face.
And Han Ming's performance satisfied him even more. "Alright, you are already a Martial Emperor now, so there isn't much I can help you with. This is a Profound Rank Water Spirit Fruit; consuming it can help one comprehend the Mysteries of Water. It suits you perfectly as a gift."
Martial God Han Qingcang chatted with Han Ming for a few more sentences, then waved his hand, sending a water-blue fruit flying toward Han Ming. Han Ming caught it subconsciously, and immediately, a fresh fragrance washed over him. At the same time, his Sea of Consciousness felt clear, and the Mysteries of Water instantly became a bit more active.
Han Ming's eyes lit up. This was a good item that even a Martial Venerable would covet; it was no longer something that could be bought with money. This single fruit was worth at least a hundred million Spirit Stones. "Thank you, Great-grandfather!" He quickly put it away and bowed to Martial God Han Qingcang in gratitude.
"No need to be formal. Just come visit this old man often when you have time." Martial God Han Qingcang waved his hand. "You, did you really break through to a 3-Star Martial Emperor?"
After leaving Martial God Han Qingcang's small courtyard, Han Qingyue, who hadn't spoken the entire time, looked at Han Ming and asked in disbelief. "Yes. This is a Grade 9 dragon blood soul fruit; it's very suitable for you right now. Take it and Cultivate!" Han Ming nodded, hesitated for a moment, then took out a dragon blood soul fruit and handed it to her.
Through their interactions recently, he felt this cheap cousin was actually not bad. Besides, they were both from the Han Family, so giving her one to improve her strength was fine. If she refined this dragon blood soul fruit, she would at least be able to break through to a 9-Star Martial Ancestor, or perhaps even break through to the Martial General Realm in one go.
Furthermore, by using the dragon blood soul fruit to temper her Divine Soul and condense her Divine Sense, her Yin Intent would definitely reach a higher level. When that time came, she would undoubtedly be the undisputed first place in the freshman rankings, aside from himself.
"What? A dragon blood soul fruit? This is too valuable; you should refine it yourself!" Han Qingyue was also astonished to hear it was a dragon blood soul fruit and quickly refused.
A Grade 9 dragon blood soul fruit was as precious as a Yellow Rank Spirit Medicine; it could not only temper the body but also condense the Divine Soul. It was a Heaven And Earth Treasure that was hard to come by. Even as the eldest Young Miss of the Han Family, it wasn't something she could have just because she wanted it.
This was only because Lin Fan was a Child of Luck, and those two exotic beasts just happened to perish together while fighting over it. Otherwise, it would have been swallowed by the exotic beasts as soon as it matured.
"Take it! I have already consumed one, and it has no effect on me now." Han Ming said as he shoved it directly into her hand.
Having given one to Han Qingyue, he still had five left, which was more than enough for his own use. It was just a pity that what was fed back from Lin Fan couldn't be used to fleece the System again; otherwise, he would have wanted to give some to his disciples and fleece the System once more.
"Alright, thank you!" Since Han Ming said so, Han Qingyue had no choice but to accept it. The look she gave Han Ming held a bit more gratitude and approval. Only now did she truly treat him like her own cousin. This dragon blood soul fruit was exactly what she needed at the moment.
Soon, the two returned to the school and parted ways. Han Ming wanted to give the Water Spirit Fruit to Teacher Xue Muhan to fleece the System and maximize his benefits. As long as Teacher Xue Muhan had a Breakthrough, his own strength would advance by leaps and bounds again.
Han Qingyue couldn't wait to go back and refine the dragon blood soul fruit.