The training ground was neither too big nor too small.

With the Grand Elder absent, no one was overseeing, and many had already started paying attention to this area.

Seeing that it was a dispute between the First and Second House, their interest piqued.

By now, nearly half of the people on the training ground were watching.

They wanted to see how the First Young Master would respond.

The Second Young Master’s group had provoked the First Young Master before, but Qin Ruyu’s gentle nature always led to him backing down.

This time? They were practically slapping him in the face. Would he back down again?

Qin Ruqing’s heart sank.

This wasn’t good.

Her brother was clearly being cornered.

—He was in a dilemma.

If he didn’t accept the challenge, others would see it as cowardice, and his reputation among the family’s students would be ruined.

But if he accepted, he’d fall into their trap. Winning would be fine, but if he lost…

He had handled this wrong from the start.

He should have crushed the provocateur’s arrogance immediately.

But by backing down, he had given them an opportunity.

Qin Ruyu faced Qin Luxuan.

Qin Ruyu’s expression was grim, while Qin Luxuan’s face was relaxed, his lips curled in a mocking smile—just like his father.

“Second Brother, what are you doing? The Grand Elder isn’t here, and you want to start trouble?”

Qin Luxuan raised his voice leisurely, “What trouble, Brother? This is a sparring class. The Grand Elder left without assigning partners, so we can choose our own. We’re at the same cultivation level. What’s wrong with sparring?”

Qin Ruyu opened his mouth to argue, thinking that if Qin Luxuan wanted to spar, he should have proposed it openly from the start, not in this underhanded way.

Before he could speak, a clear, childish voice rang out.

“Fight him, fight him!”

The voice made Qin Ruyu pause.

He looked towards the edge of the training ground and saw Qingqing standing by the weapon rack, her little fists clenched, shouting at him.

Seeing her brother looking over, Qin Ruqing’s voice grew louder, “Brother, fight him! Don’t back down! If someone bullies you, fight back! Fight!”

“Brother, don’t you see? Retreating will only get you mocked, and losing will get you mocked as well. But if you fight, you have a chance to win! If you win, you can turn this whole situation around!”

“Reasoning only works if you have the strength to back it up!”

Qin Ruqing, all fired up, looked even more agitated than her brother Qin Ruyu.

Initially, Qin Ruyu had considered backing down, thinking that this situation had gone beyond a normal sparring match, and the family rules strictly prohibited internal strife among members.

But hearing Qingqing’s words stirred his blood.

Yes, Qingqing was watching! If he backed down now, he could tolerate being laughed at, but how could he let Qingqing be scorned just because she was his sister and new to the academy?

He couldn’t back down!

Qin Ruyu’s resolve solidified.

Even if he were held accountable by the Grand Elder later, he couldn’t retreat now!

“In that case,” Qin Ruyu looked at Qin Luxuan, slowly taking his stance, “let’s fight.”

Good!

Qin Ruqing cheered inwardly.

That’s the spirit—fight him hard!

Not satisfied with just cheering internally, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted to cheer her brother on.

“Brother, you can do it! You’ll win!”

“Beat him up, knock him down!”

Standing next to Qin Ruqing, Qin Qirong started shouting too, though he didn’t fully understand what was going on.

“Big brother, go! Knock him down!”

The training ground began to buzz.

The kids, full of youthful vigor, were getting caught up in the excitement and joined in the cheering.

Qin Luxuan frowned.

He hadn’t expected the situation to escalate like this.

Initially, he thought Qin Ruyu wouldn’t even take his bait—hadn’t his elder brother always been soft and avoided confrontation?

What was different today?

Feeling the increasing intensity of Qin Ruyu’s attacks, Qin Luxuan began to feel irritated.

However, he had confidence in his abilities.

He and Qin Ruyu were both at the third level of Qi Refinement, but he had recently felt the threshold of the fourth level.

No matter how fierce Qin Ruyu was today, he could still suppress him.

Seeing her brother gradually losing ground, Qin Ruqing started to worry.

Qin Luxuan indeed had some skill, but losing was not an option!

Qin Ruqing believed that since both were at the same level, the outcome would depend on their mindset.

So, she raised her voice even louder.

Next to her, the little girl who had just been selected from a branch family that year, also clenched her fists and whispered her encouragement.

Blocking Qin Luxuan’s attack, Qin Ruyu’s face turned red.

As the eldest grandson of the Qin family, was he truly so useless? With his sister and so many others watching, what would happen if he lost?

Never before had he felt such a strong desire to win, never before had he so deeply craved power.

He felt his entire body heating up, his meridians seemed to be boiling.

Qin Ruqing noticed something unusual. Her brother’s aura seemed unstable, as if it was about to explode.

Since she hadn’t yet started cultivating, she didn’t realize that Qin Ruyu’s surging energy was a sign of breaking through.

Her attitude shifted instantly.

Winning was important, but nothing was more important than her brother’s well-being.

What was happening?

Worried, she shouted, “Brother, it’s okay, you can stop. Don’t hurt yourself; we can fight another time.”

Qin Luxuan, noticing Qin Ruyu still holding on, began to feel anxious.

Narrowing his eyes, he gathered all his spiritual energy and unleashed his ultimate move.

His sword’s light became almost imperceptible, slashing fiercely towards Qin Ruyu.

Clang!

Qin Ruyu blocked it!

Qin Luxuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. This was impossible!

But before he could react, a powerful aura struck him, sending him flying as it hit his chest.

In the center of the training ground, Qin Ruyu stared at his hands in bewilderment.

Did he just… break through?

At the same time, a chime sounded in Qin Ruqing’s mind.

[Qin Ruyu has broken through during the battle. Cultivation level increased. Side Quest 1 (Outstanding Junior) progress updated. Claim reward?]

[Side Quest 2 task—Young Clan Leader’s Early Achievements triggered. Update?]