63: Smaller episodes

Star Calendar Year 99792. Another year had passed on Kunlun Star, at the Qin Family estate.

As the Foundation for the branch of Qin Pojun, Chairman of the Star Rail Group, on the Capital Star, the Qin Family estate covered an immense area. It was less of a mansion and more of a massive super-city.

Pavilions and towers stretched and undulated, with faint Brilliant Light of energy flowing between the flying eaves and arched brackets. Exotic flowers and rare grasses grew everywhere, and there were even small-scale ecological simulation gardens housing gentle, rare Star Beasts.

The servants and guards moving to and fro all possessed sharp, vigorous auras, moving silently, showcasing the deep heritage and discipline accumulated by an aristocratic Family over tens of thousands of years.

However, today, the Qin Family estate was filled with an indescribable sense of celebration and busyness, more so than usual.

This celebration was not marked by lanterns, colorful streamers, or the beating of drums, but rather a hidden joy flowing deep within the estate and permeating the air of the core area.

The servants walked with light steps, their exchanged glances carrying a hint of reflected glory and excitement.

On the west side of Qin Qingxuan's private courtyard, on the outskirts of a meticulously maintained garden with particularly abundant Spiritual Qi, several gorgeously dressed and handsome young men and women were gathered in a carved and painted waterside pavilion, chatting.

They were some of the more outstanding descendants of the Qin Family's current generation, considered proud children of heaven in the eyes of ordinary people, and were usually arrogant and looked down upon others.

"Brother Qin Hao, you have SSS-level Aptitude! In our Qin Family's current generation, you are definitely the best!"

A beautiful young girl named Qin Yuer, who possessed A-level Aptitude, gave a thumbs-up with a look of adoration to the young man sitting in the center.

The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, with a handsome face and an undisguised arrogance between his brows. His energy fluctuations were active, and he was the center of attention—Qin Hao, who possessed SSS-level Aptitude!

Upon hearing this, the corners of his mouth curled into a reserved yet smug arc. He gently swirled a glass of expensive spiritual fruit juice in his hand and said indifferently:

"Sister Yuer, you flatter me. SSS-level is nothing; on Kunlun Star, it cannot be considered the Peak. I still need to work hard, striving to reach War God Peak within a hundred years to truly establish a foothold in the Family!"

His tone seemed humble, but the remarks "SSS-level is nothing" and "reach War God Peak within a hundred years" fully exposed his arrogance.

Reach War God Peak within a hundred years? Even for someone with SSS-level Aptitude, this could be called god-like speed!

One must know that many Martial Artists with A-level or S-level Aptitude might be stuck at the War General Rank Peak for their entire lives.

"Brother Hao, you are too humble!" Another youth with S-level Aptitude, Qin Meng, quickly interjected with a fawning tone, "Who doesn't know the potential of SSS-level Aptitude? Once you break through to War God Level, it will be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate! In the future, you could at least govern like the magistrate of our Kunlun Star's 'Tianshu County', managing millions of citizens with immense power! That would be serving as an official on the Capital Star, far superior to the mayors or governors of those remote planets!"

"Yes, yes, the Tianshu County magistrate is a mid-level War God Level powerhouse! Brother Hao will definitely surpass him in the future!"

"By then, we will all have to rely on Brother Hao's support!"

Everyone chimed in, their flattery ringing loud and clear.

Qin Hao was clearly very pleased, nodding slightly and enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.

His gaze swept across the area outside the pavilion, which was shrouded in a stronger energy field and heavily guarded. That was the true core of the Qin Family estate—the direction of Old Ancestor Qin Qingxuan's private courtyard, the "Jade Washing Studio."

The hidden celebration in the estate today seemed to originate from there.

"Speaking of which, it seems there is an esteemed guest visiting the Old Ancestor's courtyard today? The atmosphere is quite unusual."

Qin Hao asked seemingly casually, trying to fish for some inside information.

Given his status, he was not yet privy to the most core secrets; he only knew that an extraordinary little ancestor seemed to have been born.

Mentioning this topic, everyone immediately perked up, but also carried a sense of awe, not daring to discuss it loudly.

Qin Yuer lowered her voice and said, "I heard my mother secretly say that Old Ancestor Qing Xuan... has given birth to a little ancestor! The Aptitude is earth-shattering! It is said... it might be S-level! Or even SS-level!"

"SS-level? My god! Wouldn't that be just a hair's breadth away from Brother Hao's SSS-level? That would be another pillar of support for our Qin Family in the future!" Qin Meng exclaimed.

"A hair's breadth? Hmph, a miss is as good as a mile!" Qin Hao snorted coldly, seemingly displeased at being compared.

"SSS and SS are a chasm apart! Besides, the news may not be accurate; it might be hearsay. What kind of person is the Old Ancestor? A Planet-level Peak powerhouse! How could her descendant's Aptitude be merely S or SS? In my opinion, it starts at least at SSS-level! Perhaps... it might even be the legendary Innate Martial Body!"

Qin Hao's words were both an attempt to maintain his own sense of superiority and a guess based on his blind worship of Qin Qingxuan.

"Innate Martial Body?!" Everyone gasped, their eyes filled with longing and shock.

That was a peerless Aptitude with a high probability of growing to Planet-level Peak! It would possess all Heaven-Defying Opportunities, and might even have a sliver of a chance to break through to Stellar Level!

For descendants like them, for whom even War God Level was unreachable, it was simply a mythical existence!

"It must be so! Only Innate Aptitude is worthy of Old Ancestor Qing Xuan's Bloodline! She is my grandfather's grandfather's... grandfather's great-aunt!"

"Our Qin Family is destined to prosper!"

Just as this group of young descendants was immersed in infinite reverie and flattery regarding their Family's future and the Aptitude of that mysterious little ancestor.

A figure walked unhurriedly along the bluestone path outside the pavilion, heading in the direction of the Jade Washing Studio.

This person was wearing simple gray casual clothes, with no energy fluctuations on his body, looking just like an ordinary person who had wandered into this place.

His features were quite decent, his complexion was ruddy, and his eyes were calm; it was none other than Chen Jun.

He had come at the invitation of Qin Qingxuan to visit his newborn daughter.

Although he had no feelings for that cold-as-ice Qin Qingxuan, with whom he only had a "mission" relationship, his daughter was his own flesh and blood after all, so he had to come and take a look.

He was accustomed to traveling light and had not let his attendant officer Lan Qing follow him.

Bringing guards every time would always attract more unnecessary attention, although it could spare him the harassment of some ants.

But that feeling of being surrounded by people was still very uncomfortable for him at the moment.

Relying on the Multiple Benefits function, every time he went out for a stroll, he could always feel a vast Mental Energy surrounding him.

Without needing to think, he knew it must be some Stellar Level big shot protecting him in the shadows.

The essence of the surrounding Mental Energy was extremely high, which could even be called Divine Thought; a Planetary Level person definitely couldn't do that.

A single strand of Divine Thought was so vast; the most likely candidate was Leader Yun Xi!

Since it was so safe, when traveling, he naturally chose a more comfortable way—not bringing guards and going out alone.

Qin Hao and the others in the pavilion naturally noticed this out-of-place "Mortal."

Qin Hao was feeling carried away by the flattery, and seeing such a stranger with no cultivation daring to walk towards Qin Qingxuan's area?

His brows immediately furrowed, and that sense of superiority and arrogance typical of an aristocratic Family descendant instantly surged up.

"Stop!" Qin Hao stood up, walked to the edge of the pavilion, and shouted down from above: "Who are you? Do you know what place is ahead? Is this somewhere you can just wander into?"

Chen Jun stopped, looked up at the pavilion, his gaze sweeping across that group of brightly dressed and extraordinary-looking young men and women, and finally landed on Qin Hao, who was in the lead.

This energy feels like War General Rank? It's indeed not bad; in the eyes of ordinary people, he is definitely a big shot. But on Kunlun Star, in a Family like the Qin Family that has existed for tens of thousands of years, he can only be considered outstanding.

As for in his, Chen Jun's eyes... he couldn't even be bothered to respond to the flattery of Stellar Level big shots, so would he care about the scolding of a War General Rank junior?

This kind of scene where he was stopped and questioned by minor characters was something he had experienced many times over the past year.

Every time he went out alone, whether to the Academy of Sciences or other Stellar Level estates, he would always encounter a few blind, superficial guys who judged people by their appearance.

At first, there might have been a bit of novelty, but now, only numbness and a trace of helplessness remained.

Truly, small temples have big winds, and shallow waters have many turtles. Everywhere there are these frogs in the well who feel so good about themselves.

Only at times like this did he occasionally remember the team of War God Peak female guards that a Stellar Level Old Ancestor had tried to force upon him, which he had firmly refused.

There was a feeling that taking him in wouldn't be bad, but Leader Yun Xi, who was protecting him from the shadows, certainly wouldn't appear for such a trivial matter.

He had experienced such tropes many times and had become numb to them; he simply replied calmly: "I am looking for someone."

This calm attitude completely infuriated the arrogant Qin Hao!

"Presumptuous!"

Qin Hao's face sank. With a flash of movement, he leaped down from the water pavilion and blocked Chen Jun's path, the energy around his body slightly rippling, stirring up a breeze.

"This young master asks you a question, and you dare to answer so simply? Looking for someone? Is the Jade Washing Studio a place where you can just look for people? Look at your trashy Aptitude; you don't even have any energy fluctuations. I'm afraid you aren't even a Martial Artist, are you? Speak! Did some blind servant bring you in? Are you trying to sneak in to steal something? Or are you trying to cling to the Qin Family's high branches?"

His words were biting and sarcastic, filled with extreme humiliation, belittling Chen Jun as worthless.

Qin Yuer, Qin Meng, and the others nearby also crowded around, their faces wearing expressions of mockery and anticipation of a good show.

"Brother Hao, why bother wasting words with such trash? Just have the guards throw him out!"

"Exactly, he looks like bottom-tier trash who snuck in. He's dirtying our place!"

Chen Jun looked at the young face before him, which was somewhat twisted by anger and a sense of superiority. He felt no ripples in his heart; he even wanted to laugh a little.

Sigh, it's like this again...

He couldn't help but recall the last time he went to visit Mo Heng's residence, where he was also stopped by a descendant of the Mo Family who relied on having some Aptitude and had managed to become a minor officer in the military.

And the last time he went to Leng Qingqiu's residence, he was also questioned by one of her hot-tempered grand-disciples...

Every time, it was a similar script.

Sometimes he wondered if his "Mortal" appearance was too deceptive.

Or was it that the descendants of these great noble families generally lacked discernment and upbringing?

With a large enough forest, there really are all kinds of birds...

He sighed, not angry, and began to communicate: "I am looking for Qin Qingxuan. I have an invitation on my personal terminal..."

His voice remained calm.

However, this sentence sounded like a thunderclap to Qin Hao's ears!

Daring to address the Old Ancestor by name?!

This trash actually dared to address Old Ancestor Qing Xuan by her name?!

This was great disrespect!

It was a capital offense!

The anger in Qin Hao's heart was instantly ignited. Combined with the humiliation of being ignored, he could no longer hold back. He directly interrupted Chen Jun and shouted sternly:

"You dog! How dare you address the Old Ancestor by name! Kneel for me!"

As he spoke, he actually reached out directly, containing a trace of energy, and grabbed toward Chen Jun's shoulder, wanting to forcibly press him to the ground!

Although he did not use his full strength with this grab, with his War General Rank power, dealing with a "Mortal" was enough to break his bones and tendons!

Just at this critical moment!

An old yet urgent voice suddenly rang out:

"Stop! Qin Hao! Stop immediately!"

An old man wearing a dark brown butler's uniform, with his hair combed meticulously and an anxious expression, came rushing over at a speed inconsistent with his age. It was precisely Qin Qingxuan's butler, Butler Qin!

Butler Qin's face was pale at this moment, cold sweat was pouring down his forehead, and his eyes were filled with terror!

He had just been arranging matters in the courtyard. When he heard the commotion outside, he came out to see, and he was almost scared out of his wits!

This ignorant little beast Qin Hao actually dared to make a move against Chen Jun?!

Others might not know, but how could he, Butler Qin, not know?!

Back at the Jade Washing Studio, it was he who had personally arranged the room!

This seemingly ordinary man before him, although no longer looking old, he would recognize him even if he turned to ashes!

He was the existence who had coupled with his master and conceived that little ancestor!

Although his master's attitude toward him was cold, regarding him only as a subject for pregnancy, his status was special; he was the biological father of that little ancestor!

How could a collateral descendant like Qin Hao be allowed to humiliate him or lay a hand on him?!

If he angered this person or injured him, the consequences would be unimaginable!

If the master blamed him, he, Butler Qin, would be the first to suffer the consequences!

Qin Hao's hand froze in mid-air. Seeing that the person who arrived was Butler Qin, his brows furrowed even tighter, but his tone was somewhat restrained:

"Uncle Fu? Why are you here? This Mortal from who knows where trespassed into the Forbidden Ground and even addressed the Old Ancestor by name; I was just about to teach him a lesson!"

He felt he was in the right, so his tone still carried dissatisfaction.

"Teach him a lesson?! You're full of crap!"

Butler Qin was so angry he almost spat out blood. He didn't care about his demeanor anymore; he stepped forward, pushed away Qin Hao's hand, blocked in front of Chen Jun, and sternly rebuked Qin Hao.

"Qin Hao! Do you have any rules in your eyes?! This is an honored guest of the residence! Is this someone you can offend?! Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Chen!"

"An honored guest?"

Qin Hao was stunned. He looked at Chen Jun, then at Butler Qin, who was trembling with anger, his face full of disbelief.

"Uncle Fu, you aren't mistaken, are you? Him? A Mortal? Could he be an honored guest of our Qin residence? Are you confused from being too busy?"

He didn't believe it at all!

How could a piece of trash without even any energy fluctuations be an honored guest of the Qin residence? Let alone an honored guest of the Jade Washing Studio?

What kind of interstellar joke is this?!

Qin Yuer, Qin Meng, and the others also looked at each other, thinking that maybe Butler Qin had gone senile.

"You... you..."

Butler Qin pointed at Qin Hao, his finger trembling, wishing he could slap him.

"I told you to apologize! Immediately! Right now! Otherwise, I will use Family law!"

Upon hearing the four words "use Family law," Qin Hao's expression finally changed.

Although Butler Qin was only a butler, he was deeply trusted by Old Ancestor Qing Xuan and held significant power in the residence. If he really used Family law, even with his SSS-level Aptitude, he would be in a lot of trouble.

But the arrogance and grievance in his heart were hard to quell, so he stiffened his neck and said:

"Uncle Fu! I am not convinced! He is just a Mortal, on what basis? Even if he is a guest, he cannot address the Old Ancestor by name! This is great disrespect!"

"Is the name something you can concern yourself with?! Is the Old Ancestor's business for you to comment on?!"

Butler Qin was furious, but seeing Qin Hao's stubborn appearance, he knew that forcing him wouldn't work and might instead escalate the conflict.

He had to suppress his anger, took a step closer, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of warning:

"Qin Hao! Take my advice, apologize immediately, and then take your people and get lost! This gentleman's background is not something you can imagine! If you anger him, let alone you, even your ancestor's lineage won't be able to bear it! Don't bring trouble to your Family!"

Qin Hao's whole body shook. Looking at Butler Qin's extremely serious, even slightly fearful gaze, and then looking at Chen Jun, who was still calm and seemingly indifferent, his heart finally began to pound with uncertainty.

Butler Qin didn't seem to be joking...

Could it be... that this kid really has some Heaven-Defying background?

But... but he doesn't look like it at all!

He felt suffocated, his face turning red and white, but ultimately he didn't dare to gamble with his own future and that of his ancestor's lineage.

Although SSS-level Aptitude was precious, in a large Family like the Qin Family, it was not irreplaceable.

If he really offended someone he couldn't afford to offend...

Eventually, under Butler Qin's stern gaze, Qin Hao extremely unwillingly squeezed three words through his teeth: "...Sorry."

The voice was so low it was almost inaudible, with absolutely no sincerity.

After saying this, he glared fiercely at Chen Jun, as if wanting to carve this face into his heart, and then, with a belly full of fire and confusion, beckoned the equally bewildered Qin Yuer and the others, and scurried away in a dejected rush.

He had really lost face today!

Watching Qin Hao and the others leave, Butler Qin finally let out a long sigh of relief. He turned to Chen Jun, his face filled with an apologetic and respectful smile, and bowed deeply:

"Mr. Chen, I am extremely sorry! It is this old servant's failure to supervise strictly that allowed these ignorant juniors to offend you! You are a magnanimous person, please don't take it to heart!"

Chen Jun waved his hand, his face still devoid of expression: "It's fine, I'm used to it."

He was truly used to it.

This kind of drama had to be staged every once in a while; he was almost numb to it.

Sometimes he even felt that perhaps this was just an alternative "entertainment activity" to relieve boredom on the long road of immortality.