C11 Blood Brave Token

Zhou Wen couldn't help but chuckle when he saw about a dozen warriors at the Fifth Phase of the Spirit Founding Stage encircling Qin Ming.

"You've got some nerve!" Qin Ming bellowed.

He hoisted the token aloft; on its front was a red 'Qin' character, and on its back, a 'Ming' character.

Elder Qin De shuddered involuntarily, his voice quivering as he spoke, "That's the Blood Brave Token."

"I don't care about any Blood Brave Token; I want him dead!" Qin Feng bellowed, having lost all sense of reason.

The disciples watching from below were visibly confused, but Elder Qin De's reaction made it clear that the Blood Brave Token was no ordinary object.

As soon as the Blood Brave Token was raised, the group of experts immediately knelt before Qin Ming.

This sight brought back memories for Qin Shan, reminding him of the Qin Family's first Chief, Qin Liufeng.

Qin Shan, in his youth, had caused a catastrophe that nearly doomed his family. Faced with overwhelming enemies, Qin Liufeng took his own life to protect Qin Shan and to atone for his inability to safeguard the family, even expelling Qin Shan from the clan.

"The disciples of the Qin Family should bravely face adversity. As Chief, I have failed to protect my family members. Now, I will atone with my life," were Qin Liufeng's final words.

Back then, the Elders had soaked two pieces of sandalwood in Qin Liufeng's blood, declaring, "To see the Blood Brave Token is to see our ancestors."

Qin Ming's grandfather later took Qin Shan in secretly, saving him from certain death.

"It really is the Blood Brave Token," Qin Shan exclaimed, overwhelmed with emotion.

Traditionally, the Blood Brave Token was safeguarded by the Chief, but Qin Zhenhsing had entrusted one of the tokens to Qin Ming.

The younger disciples might have been unclear about the Blood Brave Token's history, but they certainly understood its significance.

"Get up and seize him!" Qin Feng commanded, seething with anger.

But since laying eyes on the Blood Brave Token, the warriors remained kneeling, motionless.

"Silence," Qin Shan commanded, "To behold the Blood Brave Token is to behold our ancestor. Kneel at once."

"You expect me to kneel before the enemy who killed my brother? That's impossible!" Qin Feng spat, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Just because you hold the token, you think you can kill a member of your own family? I won't stand for it."

"He's unworthy of the Blood Brave Token," Qin Wu bellowed in the arena.

"We won't accept this!" All the disciples of the Qin Family began to voice their dissent.

The two Elders on the stage murmured among themselves.

"I fear even the Blood Brave Token can't protect him now," Qin De said to Qin Shan, feigning concern.

Rising to his feet, Qin De surveyed the crowd and declared, "The Blood Brave Token should only be held by those who have made significant contributions to the Qin Family. Qin Ming, having slain his kin, may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot avoid punishment. Let Qin Feng decide his fate. Does anyone object?"

Qin Ming let out a sudden, mocking laugh. "You traded my future for a century of peace, and now it seems the Blood Brave Token is worthless."

Qin Hu and Qin Hai had sought to kill him, but they were the ones who ended up dead. And now, they were trying to frame him.

Qin De was seething with anger, considering this a stain on the Qin Family's honor. Three years ago, the family's cowardice had led to Qin Ming's suffering. He had traded his bloodline of the Ancient Strange Beast, the Fire Cloud Flood Dragon, for a century's rights to two mines, never imagining that the Chief would actually bestow the Blood Brave Token upon Qin Ming.

"Qin Ming, it's time you faced the truth," Qin Wu pressed, his tone menacing.

Qin Wu had little regard for honor; his concern was the loss of his cousin and business partner, Qin Hu, who had managed their illicit dealings. With Qin Ming having killed him, Qin Wu felt as though he had been crippled. He had no intention of letting the matter slide.

"Given Elder Qin Shan's stance, I propose Qin Ming kneels and repents before all the disciples, and then relinquishes his Bloodline Power. With that, we'll consider the matter resolved," Qin Feng said, his eyes glinting with a chilling resolve.

Today, he was determined to see Qin Ming's name utterly ruined.

At that moment, he intended to kill Qin Ming, who had been stripped of his Bloodline Power.

"No, that's beyond the bounds of acceptable punishment," Qin Shan interjected quickly, arguing that forcing Qin Ming to destroy his own bloodline would be even more brutal than killing him.

"Elder Qin Shan, this was Elder Qin De's decision. He has granted Qin Feng the authority to punish Qin Ming," Qin Wu said, deliberately making things difficult.

"Do as I tell you, and perhaps I'll spare you," Qin Feng told Qin Ming.

"You? You don't have the credentials," Qin Ming responded arrogantly.

Qin Feng was so infuriated that he was at a loss for words.

"Elder Qin De, we need your ruling," Qin Wu said indifferently, his gaze icy.

Elder Qin De looked at the Blood Brave Token in Qin Ming's hand, clearly troubled. To him, the token was as sacred as an ancestor. Despite being an elder of the Qin Family, he hesitated to apprehend Qin Ming.

"The family's selection competition is underway. We'll leave this issue in Elder Qin De's hands. The Qin Family will thoroughly investigate the matter. Everyone, please be assured," Qin Shan reassured the crowd.

"You'll probably just give him a slap on the wrist. How can that be reassuring? We need to settle Qin Hu's case today," Qin Wu countered.

Qin Wu, the beloved grandson of the Qin Family's Grand Elder and second only to Chief Qin Zhenhsing, had never feared anyone.

The standoff continued, with neither elder able to make a decision. Ultimately, only the Chief had the authority to determine the fate of the Blood Brave Token.

Suddenly, Qin Feng smirked malevolently. "Since Elder Qin Shan mentioned the selection, let's resolve this in the arena."

Everyone believed that Qin Ming had only managed to kill Qin Hu and Qin Hai by resorting to vile tactics like using Exhausted Powder. Now, Qin Feng wanted Qin Ming to experience the same fate.

Unanticipated by Qin Feng and his allies, the appearance of the Blood Brave Token meant that their secondary plan, previously unnecessary, was now set in motion. Qin Wu, of course, was in tune with Qin Feng's intentions.

"Qin Hu was a prodigy of the Qin Family, yet he was slain by this scoundrel before us through underhanded means. What do you think his punishment should be?" Qin Wu fervently incited the disciples' emotions.

"Kill!"

To everyone's perception, Qin Ming had only awakened his Bloodline Power half a month prior. Despite having crippled Qin Feng's cultivation level, at best he was thought to be at the Second Phase of the Spirit Founding Stage.

Suddenly, a man with tears in his eyes ascended the arena platform. "Today, I will avenge Mr. Hu."

Qin Daniu, at the peak of the Second Phase of Spirit Founding Stage, had not easily secured Qin Hu as his supporter, only to be treacherously attacked. It was only natural that he sought to release his pent-up fury.

Qin Ming's strike sent Qin Daniu tumbling to the ground, causing him to fall out of the arena.

Since a confrontation with them was inevitable, Qin Ming saw no reason to shy away.

He was in need of worthy adversaries to hone his combat techniques.

"I was careless before. Let's battle once more," Qin Daniu declared, climbing back onto the arena.

Qin Ming wasted no words. This time, he intensified his assault, sending Qin Daniu crashing down even more brutally, knocking him unconscious.

"I'm going to kill you," Qin Wu threatened, poised to leap from the arena and strike at Qin Ming.

"If you voluntarily leave the stage, it's tantamount to forfeiting your match," interjected Qin Shan, his sudden statement freezing Qin Wu in place.

Qin Wu, whose strategic acumen surpassed even that of Qin Xianer, swiftly regained his composure. "I will avenge Qin Hu," he vowed.

With each generation of Chiefs being male and Qin Xianer out of the running, Qin Wu was naturally seen as the heir apparent to the fourth-generation Chief, commanding considerable respect among the younger disciples.

As expected, the disciples ceased their individual skirmishes in the other arenas. Aside from those with the prowess to vie for the top ten, the rest formed an orderly queue, each taking their turn to challenge Qin Ming.

Initially, Qin Ming refrained from using excessive force, merely pushing them back.

However, the rules of the selection competition granted each disciple three opportunities to challenge. As a result, those who were knocked off the arena would instantly scramble back up, giving Qin Ming no respite.

With several hundred disciples gathered around the stage, some would preemptively climb up while Qin Ming was engaged in combat, readying themselves for their turn.

"If that's how it is, then don't hold my ruthlessness against me," Qin Ming stated icily.

After besting over ten disciples consecutively, Qin Ming's anger was kindled. He prepared to unleash his full power.

A deep, resonant roar emanated from within him, akin to the bellow of an Azure Dragon, which instantly repelled all the disciples on the platform.

The arena was packed with members of the clan, yet Qin Ming stood undaunted.

A sense of a colossal dragon awakening became apparent to all, as a subtle pressure drove the onlookers back.

"Fourth Phase of Spirit Founding Stage!" A glint of sharpness flashed in Qin Shan's eyes.