Chapter 298: Did I Become My Dad's Reincarnation?

"That's impossible!" Qin Tian was the first to retort, but everyone present ignored him.

The Soul Transformation stage cultivator behind him felt a murderous intent, wanting to kill Lu Yang and the other three right there. The potential danger was simply too great. He quickly abandoned the idea after a moment's thought. It was clear the other party showed no fear of him, and as ancient prodigies, they must have had several life-saving trump cards. If he couldn't kill them now, and the Nine Nether Sect allied with the Heavenly Court Sect in the future, he would be the one in trouble.

Lu Yang waved his hand dismissively, not taking Lord Mi seriously. "You don't believe me? It's understandable; your Nine Nether Sect has lost too much of its heritage. Very well, then I'll find what Sect Master Qin hid."

Lord Mi didn't find Lu Yang arrogant. As an ancient peerless genius who had commanded the Heavenly Immortal to block the path to immortality, why would he pay any attention to a mere, ordinary Nascent Soul stage cultivator like him? It wasn't just Lu Yang; Meng Jingzhou, Li Haoran, and Qin Yanyan, who were behind him, all shared the same demeanor. Qin Yanyan's acting was the weakest; she had practiced all night yesterday. Li Haoran, whether by nature or influenced by memory fragments, perfectly conveyed this attitude in one go, drawing applause and cheers from Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Lu Yang turned and walked into the abandoned temple, which surprised Lord Mi.

"Come in," Lu Yang said, "See for yourselves. It's understandable that your Nine Nether Sect, having been oppressed by the righteous path and forced into hiding for so long, has become distrustful of others."

Lu Yang walked directly into the main hall, followed closely by Meng Jingzhou, his two companions, and the three ghosts of Xiao Qi. Lord Mi and Qin Tian were at the very back. The main hall was as dilapidated as ever: a half-statue of Buddha, old doors and windows, cracked ceiling beams, dim incense on the altar table, and dust falling from the adobe brick walls had long since covered many patterns and inscriptions, making the residents of Ancient Locust Town forget the original purpose of building the temple.

Lu Yang stared blankly at the scene, as if it evoked memories from ancient times, as if the Heavenly Court, like this forgotten temple, had also been forgotten. "To think back then," he murmured, "who didn't know the prestige of the Heavenly Court?" He muttered softly, just loud enough for Lord Mi and the Soul Transformation cultivator to hear.

Lu Yang raised his arm, and sword light gathered, forming a golden sword beam. This golden sword beam, once renowned in ancient times, was now unknown to anyone. The golden sword beam descended, splitting the half-wooden Buddha statue in two and revealing a wooden box covered with old sealing talismans.

"Sect Master Qin's relic!" Lord Mi exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out. He had never imagined that the treasure he had sought fruitlessly had been right under his nose the entire time!

"Well?" Lu Yang weighed the wooden box; it was unexpectedly light, and he wondered what was inside.

Li Haoran seized the opportunity to sigh, "Four hundred years ago, it was hidden in a locust tree. Who could have known that the people of Ancient Locust Town would cut down that very tree to build this temple and carve it into a Buddha statue? Fate plays strange tricks."

This, of course, was not Li Haoran's recollection, but the result of Lu Yang's deduction last night. The reasoning process was simple: the Nine Nether Sect knew there was something of Qin Haoran's here, so they must have searched repeatedly, like plowing the ground, and dug through the soil like earthworms. Lu Yang even suspected that the great fire in Ancient Locust Town was set by the Nine Nether Sect to burn down the locust trees and find the wooden box. In any case, the wooden box surely wouldn't have been damaged by fire. Even so, the Nine Nether Sect still hadn't found the wooden box. That could only mean Qin Haoran's wooden box was hidden in the Nine Nether Sect's blind spot—for example, a locust tree that had already been processed into a Buddha statue.

Why had Xiao Qi and the others stayed in this temple all this time? Was it just because there was no one else here? What a joke. This place was on the outskirts of Ancient Locust Town, with few locust trees around. It would be better to live inside the town itself than to stay here. The reason they stayed was because the half-Buddha statue in the main hall was made of ancient locust wood, which could nourish souls.

Lu Yang tried to open the wooden box but couldn't, thinking, "Just as I expected." The wooden box had been sealed by Qin Haoran; it would be impossible to open it without being Qin Haoran himself. Forcing it open might damage the contents inside.

"Here, kid, take it. Didn't you say you were Sect Master Qin's reincarnation? Try opening it!"

Qin Tian was startled, fumbling as if he'd been handed a hot potato, almost dropping it. He knew best whether or not he was Sect Master Qin's reincarnation. But what if? What if he really was? He gritted his teeth, cold sweat beading on his forehead, and used all his strength to pry open the box. The box remained motionless.

The Soul Transformation cultivator looked at Qin Tian with exasperation, thinking, "Fool, who said you had to open it here? Can't you open it later, back home?"

Lord Mi took the box and examined it carefully. Having some knowledge of sealing arts, he recognized it as a seal laid by Sect Master Qin using immense spiritual power, one that only Sect Master Qin himself could open—or his reincarnation.

"Li Hao, you open it," Lu Yang said with a light chuckle, motioning for Li Haoran, the legitimate former Sect Master, to open the box. As the former Sect Master and someone who understood the mysteries of reincarnation, Li Haoran was qualified to be on par with ancient prodigies. Naturally, he couldn't just take the box directly; that wouldn't maintain his prestige. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were only at the Golden Core stage, so it wasn't appropriate for them. This task of helping Li Haoran maintain his prestige was thus given to Qin Yanyan.

Qin Yanyan stepped forward, had just received the box from Lord Mi, and was about to hand it to Li Haoran. The moment the wooden box touched Qin Yanyan's fingers, the blood essence seal vanished instantly, as if it had met its master. Qin Yanyan blinked, looking utterly bewildered, not yet comprehending what had happened.

Lu Yang also didn't understand what had happened, but fortunately, he had the Immortal Fairy inside him. After the Immortal Fairy's explanation, Lu Yang understood the reason. This was a blood essence seal left by Qin Haoran, and only someone with Qin Haoran's blood flowing in their veins could open it. Four hundred years ago, the only one who met this condition was Qin Haoran himself. But now, there was one more person who met this condition: his daughter.

Lord Mi's eyes widened. Being well-traveled and knowledgeable, he instantly figured something out, wearing an expression of realization and sudden understanding, as if he had discovered the truth. Her surname was Qin. She could break Sect Master Qin's seal. Her age also corresponded to the time of Sect Master Qin's demise. Her talent was astonishing; she had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage at a young age and even defeated Qin Tian, who was also in the late Foundation Establishment stage! It made sense, everything made sense!

He excitedly pointed at Qin Yanyan. "You, you are Sect Master Qin's reincarnation!" If she wasn't Sect Master Qin's reincarnation, then who was?! Although she was a woman, who said that a man's reincarnation must also be a man? Reincarnation was mysterious; everything was unknown. And if it was unknown, then anything was possible! Hadn't Lu Yang also said that their Heavenly Court Sect had found Sect Master Qin's reincarnation? Lu Yang had specifically asked Qin Yanyan to take the box, surely wanting him to witness the scene of Qin Yanyan breaking the seal, thereby confirming that they had indeed found Sect Master Qin's reincarnation!

Qin Yanyan: "..."*I've become my father's reincarnation?*