And this man was none other than Hanbi’s father. Damn. Xuan definitely knew where she got all the looks from. But for someone so fearsome, didn’t he look a little too young?

"I didn’t know Hanbi had a brother," Xuan said, using the cheesiest line he could come up with.

And with the increase in Qi pressure, he was glad it didn’t cost him his life.

"The only reason you’re still alive is because you saved my daughter. Try flattery once more, and I will truly make you a eunuch," he said.

Xuan performed the zipping-his-mouth gesture, and then nodded. "So, sir. Why did you call me here?"

"The name’s Xue Dian. The Sect Master of the Serene Blossom Valley Sect, and the cultivator responsible for the Great Ghost Cultivator Massacre."

Wow.

The unskippable dialogue of some important figure having more achievements than Xuan had teeth. It really sucked to hear it every single time, but he just smiled and waved, knowing that this guy was his future father-in-law.

"What about you, Xuan, is it? What have you achieved in your life?" Dian asked plainly. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Xuan thought about it for a moment, then said:

"Uhh... I might not have much to say, but at only the First Level of Spirit Master, I have a fully formed Domain, as well as five Qi Types. I could keep going about how good I am at fighting too, but I bet you could probably kick my ass pretty easily, Xue Dian."

"That’s Sect Master Dian to you, brat," he replied with a scoff, then paused, his eyes widening. "Wait, did you say five Qi Types? Are you making a mockery of me, brat?"

Xuan shook his head. "I’m serious. Look at this."

One by one, Xuan began using Elemental Qi, showing off each of his Qi Types. There were indeed five, and the majority of the Qi Types he showed, Dian had already seen before.

And of course, his opinion of Xuan changed the moment he spotted Space Qi, Time Qi, and Death Qi... Demonic Qi and Poison Qi were also things that seemed to be borderline evil, but he trusted his daughter’s opinion.

If they traveled for so long together, she must already have known of his Demonic Qi. More importantly, if he saw a problem with it to begin with, he wouldn’t have shown it to Dian. That meant Xuan was either naive, or someone who was seeking his trust.

In reality though, it had completely slipped Xuan’s mind that Demonic Qi wasn’t exactly great. By the time he showed it, he realized he kind of fucked up a little. But oh well, since Dian didn’t say anything, Xuan showed the rest and then took a step back, nodding at Dian in confirmation.

"That’s all of them for now."

"For now...?" Dian rubbed his forehead. "Listen, brat... Most people only have enough Dantian Slots for three Qi Types. Even I, a generational talent who had been praised and nourished since birth, have only four Qi Types I am able to unlock. Alas, I only have three at the moment, as I’m looking for my final Qi Type to master."

Xuan stared at him for a moment, unable to help his curiosity.

"Which Qi Types?"

Dian narrowed his eyes. Normally, it would be rude to ask such a thing of another, but since Xuan had already shown his Qi Types, Dian figured it wouldn’t be an issue to show him a few as well.

Starting with blue, Water Qi, then next, Space Qi, which surprised Xuan a little. Lastly, it was some color he hadn’t seen before. A dark red Qi.

"Water Qi, Space Qi, and Blood Qi. Blood Qi is the Supreme version of Water Qi, which I had gotten due to sheer luck," Dian explained. "Whenever I master Water Qi, then it will be merged together with Blood Qi and I will have freed up one Qi Type slot. Until then, Blood Qi will act as superior, as it is my main Qi Type."

Xuan nodded in satisfaction, then asked:

"Do you get Ice Qi from Water Qi?"

Dian sighed. "Indeed. In the same manner, you can get Gravity Qi from Space Qi. Life Qi from Blood Qi... There are a lot of variations, Xuan. However, the Qi Type I’m searching for right now is far greater. It is Immortal Qi."

"Hmm? As in, you get immortality?" Xuan sounded like a bit of a curious toddler right about now.

And Dian knew that, but still answered:

"It acts as a permanent buff Qi Type. It increases your Qi Types’ strength to ridiculous degrees. On top of that, yes, it does make you immortal."

Right as Xuan was about to speak up, Dian raised his hand, stopping him. "That’s enough. You’ve asked far too many questions and wasted one too many seconds of my time. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to test your resolve."

"Resolve?"

Xuan stepped back, feeling the Qi pressure increasing a little. He had a rough idea of what he meant by resolve, but was this guy already seeing Xuan as his daughter’s potential lover? Come on... all Xuan wanted to do was just relax for a bit. Why did he have to get into fights?

"I don’t suppose we could solve this over who can get drunk first?" Xuan suggested.

Though by then, it was already too late, as a fist full of Blood Qi headed straight for his face. Xuan inwardly sighed, and ducked under the attack, thanking Dian for going easy on him.

And yet, he wasn’t. In the brief moment that Xuan thought he would have a fair fight, Dian upped the ante, punching Xuan straight in the jaw, knocking tens of teeth out alongside his whole jaw, as the pressure behind the attack hurtled Xuan through the mountain and out the other side.

By the time he realized what was happening, Xuan was bleeding profusely, and with one of his eyes hanging out of its socket, Xuan knew he fucked up.