1 Back Door

Smack, smack, smack…

In the courtroom, two bailiffs were holding onto their wooden poles, viciously smacking at the fair buttocks of the man on the floor.

The punishment dished out required that man's clothing to be stripped, making it very visible while that person's buttcheeks turned red as soon as the poles struck. 

"Ah!"

The young man on the floor immediately screamed in pain when given such cruel punishment.

However, those screams fell on deaf ears. The bailiffs did not relent even after hearing the screams from the man on the floor.

For a pervert that harassed and raped a proper lady, nobody would feel any pity even if he died from the beating in the courtroom. Instead of holding back on their strikes, they put in all their effort into it instead, viciously hitting away.

With that, the pervert screamed at the top of his lungs, wailing in misery.

Eventually, his buttocks were devastated and covered in wounds. His screams filled the courtroom while blood dyed his lower garment red.

However, the commoners watching the county magistrate outside the courtroom were cheering them on. A few burly men even felt their pulse racing as they watched, rolling up their sleeves as they hoped to be the one administering the punishment. They yearned to wreck this pervert's butt to teach him a lesson on the masculinity of Kun City's men. 

Only two guys who frequented the male brothel were quietly shaking their heads, lamenting the loss.

They were saddened as they watched the pervert's perky bubble butt go through such a cruel beating. He should instead be sent to the male brothel for a different type of punishment. Only then he would feel his soul being baptized from the deepest corner of his being.

Qin Feng was among the crowd as he silently watched that pervert as he wailed in agony.

He did not care about the life or death of such scoundrels. He was only there to wait for his father to go home after the court session ends.

Qin Long, his father, was the patrol officer of the Kun City patrol office. He was in charge of training soldiers to patrol the villages nearby, arrest bandits, and maintain security. As he held the majority of Kun City's military power, he was considered as one of the big shots in the local county office.

After the bailiffs were done with the punishment, the county magistrate instructed them to lock the barely surviving pervert into lockup. Only then did he sound the signal for the court session to end.

Qin Long, who sat at the side as a jury, got up and decided to return to the patrol office to settle some official matters. Originally he was not required to be a jury, but because the criminal was one apprehended by him, he stayed back to listen to the final verdict.

"Dad, dad…"

Qin Feng stood on his toes, calling out with his hands raised.

He was only fourteen years old, nicely at the age where his voice changed. While he exclaimed, he sounded like a quacking duck, immediately attracting Qin Long's attention.

Qin Long looked up, unable to hold back a laugh. He walked out of the courtroom toward his son and asked, smiling, "Feng'er, why are you looking for Daddy and not practicing at home?"

He was big and burly with a physique of over eight-foot tall. With that strong built and a bearded face, he gave off a heroic aura.

"Dad, I achieved spiritual awakening. I can now feel the spiritual energy in the air."

Qin Feng was exceptionally excited.

'Bloody h*ll, it's been fourteen years since my reincarnation. I've just completed my physical training, achieved the innate stage, and understood the wonders of spiritual energy.' 

For a regular person, unless they had exceptional talent or massive support from their family to push through their meridians with rare treasures, achieving spiritual awakening through cultivation was a hurdle that over 90 percent of the world would fail at.

"Really?"

Hearing that, Qin Long was immediately overjoyed.

His eyes flashed and immediately realized the spiritual energy around his son's body was vaguely conforming around him. As Qin Feng activated his cultivation method, strands of spiritual energy started entering his body.

"Hahaha…"

Seeing that, Qin Long immediately laughed out loud. He patted his son's shoulder with that bear-like palm of his, almost hitting his precious son to the floor.

"Excellent. My son is doing well and did not let me down."

Qin Long was elated. "Since you've achieved spiritual awakening, Daddy will help you secure a place for the year-end sect selection ceremony."

"Thanks, Dad."

Qin Feng gritted his teeth and rubbed his sore shoulder as his enthusiasm rose.

If he could enter a sect, then he might be able to become an immortal.

Qin Long seemed overjoyed. "Come, let's go home. The patriarch has some spiritual pills. I'll ask some from him for your sake.

"The benefits you should receive from the family must not be skimped on. I'll bring you to the scripture library later to pick a suitable cultivation method.

"Daddy has collected quite some merits. I'll turn them in exchange for cultivation resources for you. Practice well for these few months. Aim to raise your cultivation level before the end of the year.

"If you can achieve the second level of the Qi Refinement Stage, then you won't have to start from the lowest level even if you join a sect. That would be of great help to your growth in the future. It can help you save a lot of cultivation time."

"Daddy, don't worry. I'll work hard on my cultivation." Qin Feng nodded.

It was for that exact reason that he came looking for his father immediately after he succeeded in detecting spiritual energy. Although he had achieved spiritual awakening and could absorb spiritual energy, his cultivation speed would be way too slow without a suitable cultivation method.

As for the cultivation method he used previously, they were meant for regular people to fortify their bodies and achieve spiritual awakening. After achieving spiritual awakening, it was hardly of any use to him.

He could go to the scripture library to get a cultivation method himself, but he was just a teenager. Moreover, he was not even from the main branch of the family. It would be better for his father to get it for him. At least he would not be tricked by his Third Granduncle, who was not on good terms with their branch, with a random cultivation method.

Qin Long dragged his son along excitedly as he rushed over to the family.

His cultivation path was more or less at a standstill, therefore placing all his hopes in his son and hoped for his son to join a sect in order to reach greater heights.

Kun City was small. It was only several square kilometers in size with only several dozen thousand citizens. It took them little time to leave the city and headed toward the Qin Residence located 2.5 kilometers away from the city. 

As one of the three families that controlled the livelihood of over half of Kun City's populace, the Qin family's businesses were all over Kun City. However, their family residence was not located within the city walls. Instead, it was built on the peak of a small hill, right above a spiritual vein.

Despite the small size of the spiritual vein, it was sufficient to serve as a sanctuary for a small family like the Qin's.

The Qin family had established itself in Kun City for several centuries. After many years of growth, the residence was of a decent scale. It spanned over several dozen acres of land. Within it was over a hundred members from both the main family and branch families.

Of course, the descendants of the Qin family were not limited to such small numbers. However, that was their ancestral home built on a spiritual vein. Those that stayed there were mostly disciples that achieved spiritual awakening, enabling them to cultivate. Meanwhile, the ordinary clan members lived in the Qin Family Village nearby.

"Seventh Master!"

The two burly guards quickly offered a respectful greeting as they saw Qin Long.

Qin Long was ranked seventh in terms of seniority in his generation of cultivators. Although he was from the branch family, his cultivation was ranked third in power among the cultivators in the family. Moreover, he was the patrol officer. The servants were afraid of offending him.

"Mm."

Qin Long grunted in response. Without pause, he strode right into the residence and headed to the patriarch's yard with Qin Feng in tow.

"Patriarch, Seventh Master is here to seek an audience."

A beautiful teenage maidservant came before an elderly person who was playing with a panther, announcing gently.

That was the patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Guanpao1.

Patriarch Qin was 167 years old. He was at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment Stage. He was among the top cultivators in Kun City at that stage.

"Let him in."

The old patriarch was partially reclined in his seat without any intention to get up. His hand was placed on the black panther beside him, gently stroking its velvety fur, enjoying the wondrous time with the panther.

That was his nascent spirit beast—Shadow Panther.

That was also his greatest asset that allowed him to exert his influence within hundreds of kilometers around Kun City.

That was because the Shadow Panther's strength was much greater than his.

As a vassal family to the Beastmaster Sect, members from each generation would be sent into the Beastmaster Sect for training. That was the case for Qin Guanpao back then as well. Otherwise, even if the Qin family was a vassal family to the sect, they would not dare to teach the cultivation methods from the sect to any family member.

It was unfortunate that he did not have the opportunity to enter the inner circles of the sect. With that, Qin Guanpao finally decided to return home to expand the family. Sure enough, he did an excellent job in that regard!

As the sayings go, the old tree blooms; the old ginger is spicier; old but strong; old ****...ehem2!

To sum it up, Patriarch Qin Guanpao was still passionate about certain physical activities. He contributed greatly to the expansion of the family's bloodline.

However, despite the years of unbridled personal lifestyle after returning home, he did not forget what he learned from the Beastmaster Sect. After all, that was his asset to keep himself safe as a cultivator.

After many years of nurturing, his nascent spiritual beast, Shadow Panther, grew stronger.

"Understood. I'll inform the Seventh Master now."

The maidservant answered and went outward with her slender waist twisting about as she walked.

The patriarch looked up at the maidservant's perky butt. He could not help but let out a sigh, feeling that his body could not keep up to his desires.

'Perhaps it's time to consider getting some medicinal pills to strengthen my core.'

He was not even 170 years old, leaving him at least another 20 to 30 years before reaching the absolute limit of his lifespan as someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

With so much time remaining, he could not let them go to waste.

Qin Guanpao felt that he should be doing something more meaningful.

He heard that Jun City's Hundred Flowers Pavilion had recently brought in a few girls from the western barbarians with breasts the size of papayas. He wondered if that was true.

Hearsays were often false. One could only believe it after bearing witness!

Without witnessing it with his own eyes, he would not easily believe in those rumors.

It might be just a gimmick from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to lure in customers.

'Hmph, I've traveled much in my life and seen many things. Do you think I'll fall for your tricks? Nevertheless, should I go check it out...?'

The patriarch was rather conflicted.

Recently, he could not find any excuse to go out!

After all, he was the patriarch, the highest-ranking position in the family. He was required to guard the family most of the time. It would be frowned upon if he went out frequently.

Right then, the sounds of footsteps awoken the patriarch from his thoughts.

Looking up, he noticed that it was Qin Long approaching with his son.

"Ninth Uncle."

Qin Long came to a stop a few steps away, bowing respectfully to Qin Guanpao.

Although Qin Guanpao was the patriarch, the Qin family was just a small family in a rural area. Rules were lax, allowing him to assume the position of patriarch after he entered the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Greetings, Ninth Granduncle."

Qin Feng greeted obediently as well.

He was well behaved since young and rarely brought any troubles to the adults. It resulted in him being well received by the elders in the family.

However, ever since he learned that it was possible to become an immortal through cultivation in this world, he poured all his energy into cultivation and hardly played with the kids of his generation. It caused him to be a loner.

"Come, Old Seven, have a seat."

Qin Guanpao's palm has yet to leave his precious black panther. He merely signaled to the stone chair at the side with his chin.

He then laughed. "What brought you here to my place with your son? Is something the matter?"

"Ninth Uncle, we have a favor to ask."

Qin Long could not hide the smile on his face. "My son just achieved spiritual awakening today. He can finally cultivate. I was thinking of getting some elixirs from you to help him cultivate faster in order to prevent messing up at the sect selection ceremony."

"Oh?"

Qin Guanpao was mildly surprised. He looked at Qin Feng, then nodded quickly. "Not bad, this kid managed to achieve spiritual awakening. There will be six kids from our family fighting for two spots. It seems Qin family will be quite lively this year."

"Hehe…"

Qin Long chuckled. He knew what the patriarch meant.

The family already had five suitable teenagers in the Qi Refining Stage. With his son, that would be six.

However, the family could only send in two candidates in every generation to join the sect. One reason was because of the limited quota by the sect. Another reason would be the Qin family's inability to support them financially if they sent in too many disciples into the sect.

Although the Beastmaster Sect would treat all their disciples the same upon entering the sect's outer circle, it did not mean that each of the external disciples would start off the same.

The great families could afford to provide their members with more cultivation resources to help their children enter the inner circles. That was not something the ordinary disciples without backers could compete with.

Meanwhile, the Qin family was just a small family. It was impossible for their members to make a name for themselves in the outer circle of the Beastmaster Sect by themselves. That would require the support of the family. If any of them was lucky enough to enter the inner circles, then the family would have struck gold.

Unfortunately, the Beastmaster Sect's yearly quota for internal disciples was limited. With so many people fighting for it, the tiny Qin family stood no chance.

Even if they could not enter the inner circles, it did not mean that one could not achieve greatness in the outer circles.

Take Patriarch Qin Guanpao for example.

Back then, he managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage in the outer circles of the Beastmaster Sect. He even secured himself the position of external deacon. It was only because of the family's growth that he had to return home later and take over as the patriarch.

Due to the limited spiritual fields in the Qin family, they could not produce large amounts of cultivation resources to support their own disciples during their training in the sect, therefore having to limit it to two spots per generation.

Moreover, the family needed expansion. If all the family's disciples were sent to the sect, would that not cause a lack of descendants for their family?

"It's my lifelong wish to have Feng'er enter the sect."

Qin Long stated firmly, "This time, I won't budge."

"Sigh…"

The patriarch let out a sigh. "It's fine. You have been contributing a lot to our family all these years. Of course I won't smash your hopes. However, the other kids in the family would have similar goals as well. When the time comes, we should let this kid compete with them fairly."

"I understand."

Qin Long explained, "I'm not here to look for the patriarch for a backdoor."

"That's good then."

Hearing that, the patriarch relaxed and sighed mentally. 'As long as you don't go through my backdoor.'

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