47: If you want to be the strongest, you must go to be the strongest

As the indifferent voice faded, Qin Wangchuan didn't even have time to react before a Sword Light slashed down from the sky!

— Swish!

He suddenly opened his eyes, drenched in sweat, his heart pounding like thunder, finding himself back where he started.

“That sword earlier…”

Qin Wangchuan didn't bother to wipe away his cold sweat, grasping his sword and rising, instinctively wanting to recreate the enlightenment of that moment.

However, in just an instant of returning to his senses, the afterglow of that sword vanished completely.

“What a pity…”

Qin Wangchuan murmured, feeling a little lost.

Though he had only glimpsed it for an instant, it had allowed him to vaguely touch upon some supreme Sword Dao principle.

Unfortunately, the opportunity was fleeting, and that feeling was difficult to capture again.

“Unless… I take another sword strike from that person.” Qin Wangchuan muttered to himself.

But he knew it was impossible; after all, Ancestor Mu had said this fruit ripened only once every thirty thousand years.

Qin Wangchuan shook his head and chuckled, a deep starlight appearing in his eyes: “This encounter with the sword was an unexpected delight.”

“Since it allowed me to glimpse this sword, then it is destined…”

“One day—”,

“I will also be able to wield such a sword.”

Lost in thought, Qin Wangchuan finally turned his gaze to the ancient Li Family sword in his hand.

This was the last congratulatory gift.

Inside it was a drop of the Li Family Old Ancestor's essence blood.

Though he could feel the Sword Intent within it, it also seemed to be separated by something.

As for the drop of blood inside, it probably wouldn't be easy to extract.

“It seems I’ll have to make a trip to the Li Family.”

“Perfect. The Li Family is the ultimate destination for Sword Cultivators in the world, and its Sword Tomb is rumored to house an ancient deity.” Qin Wangchuan lightly tapped the sword's body with his knuckles, “Perhaps with the power of the ten thousand swords in the Sword Tomb, I can comprehend something.”

While he was pondering.

A clear shout suddenly came from outside the hall: “I’m here!”

Before her voice faded, Seventh Sister Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan had already bustled in, holding up her skirt, her jade abacus clinking at her waist.

“How did you get here so fast?” Qin Wangchuan raised an eyebrow.

“Other things can be slow, but how can anything related to money be slow?” Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan rubbed her hands, her eyes frighteningly bright, “Is it really as the voice transmission said?”

She leaned in a few steps, asking eagerly:

“All eighty-six prefectures are mine?”

Qin Wangchuan looked disgusted: “What do you mean all yours? I said they are temporarily under your management.”

Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan nodded vigorously: “Of course! Of course!”

Her eyes darted around, and she pressed on: “Then how will the money generated be split?”

“It's still a three-seven split.” Qin Wangchuan held up three fingers, “I get seven, you get three. No room for negotiation.”

He had expected Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan to haggle, but to his surprise, she quickly manipulated her abacus.

While saying, “I won’t make much from this,” she decisively nodded: “Deal!”

This straightforwardness rather surprised Qin Wangchuan.

Little did he know, Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan was ecstatic!

‘Such a vast territory, so many Secret Realms and ruins, and so many Family powers on top of that! Even with a three-seven split, the taxes alone will bring in an astronomical figure every year!’

After some thought, Qin Wangchuan still reminded her: “Don’t mess around. These land deeds don’t take effect immediately.”

He had reason to suspect that Seventh Sister, that unscrupulous merchant, would do anything for money.

“Understood, understood~” Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan rolled her eyes, her fingertips twirling a strand of hair, looking nonchalant, “These territories are my money bags. Mess around? Unless I’m crazy!”

She suddenly leaned in closer, her apricot eyes narrowed slightly, and she lowered her voice:

“You don’t know—Third Sister suddenly had a crazy idea a few days ago to build something called a ‘Profound Firmament-class Sky Patrol Seat,’ saying it’s a special flying ship that can suppress an entire Realm with just one!”

As she spoke, she gritted her teeth in anger: “Old Ancestor actually agreed! Spirit Crystals are flowing out like crazy—all from my accounts! If this keeps up, I won’t even have my capital left!”

“If you ask me, they’re all useless things…”

She suddenly paused, her eyes shifting, then she nudged her chin towards the hall entrance: “So caught up with money, I almost forgot the main business.”

“I didn’t come alone, look.”

Following her gaze, he saw Eighth Sister Qin Zhaoer hiding behind a pillar outside the hall entrance, carefully peeking out half her head.

Upon realizing she was noticed, she hastily pulled back.

But she accidentally bumped the hairpin in her bun, causing it to jingle loudly.

Seeing this, Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan's red lips curled into a cunning smile:

“Someone, oh, ever since she thought of the congratulatory gift she sent, she hasn’t been able to settle down even during meditation these past few days~”

Before she could finish, a sharp shout suddenly erupted from a distance, like thunder piercing the clouds:

“Sister—!”

Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan quickly covered her mouth, “Alright, alright, I won’t say it, I won’t say it~”

The moment she turned to leave, Qin Zhaoer threw a palm-sized purple jade box from a distance, with a note attached.

Looking up, the person was already gone.

‘Heh~ Seeing how pathetic you look, this Young Miss will be merciful and bestow another gift upon you. Be grateful!’

The handwriting was scrawled, and there was a drawing of a ghost face sticking out its tongue.

Opening the box, inside was a ring crafted from a “Void Realm Profound Crystal.”

Its interior formed a self-contained Formation, capable of containing mountains, rivers, and all things.

“Heh.” Qin Wangchuan toyed with the ring, shaking his head and chuckling.

—This girl, she clearly regretted sending a female accessory, but couldn't bring herself to apologize, so she had to “remedy” it with a more valuable treasure.

A typical tsundere girl's behavior.

After tallying the congratulatory gifts, Qin Wangchuan sat alone atop Wangchuan Pavilion, the night wind rustling his tied black hair.

Below, Ye Jianwei played the zither, its melody lingering.

In the distance, the setting sun was like blood.

The lingering twilight, not yet fallen, reflected in his eyes, causing Sword Intent to surge, his thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line.

“Indeed… I still can’t forget that sword.”

“Since I want to achieve the strongest, then I must walk towards the strongest.”

Qin Wangchuan’s gaze was profound, as if piercing through the Void Realm, looking towards the unknown path of the Immortal Emperor.

He suddenly stood up, his robes swirling, creating a rustling sound in the wind.

“I’ll go to the Li Family tomorrow!”