Since the Ancestor Ran and the Carefree Wanderer departed from this world, the Sun family, by virtue of Sun Xi’s influence, had seen Ran Yunxing elevated to a position surpassing the Ran family’s former glory. They became the undisputed rulers of the planet.

Over the past twenty years, the Sun clan had grown arrogant. In Qishui City, a branch of the Sun family held sway. Within the grand hall of this branch, three elders, each possessing the power of the nascent soul stage, sat in solemn judgment. Before them stood those involved in the tavern incident.

Qing Yi, unfamiliar with such gatherings, felt a knot of apprehension tighten within her. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her posture radiating deference.

Her master, a golden core cultivator, stood beside her, his face ashen. His cultivation, once firmly rooted in the golden core, had withered to the late foundation establishment stage.

“Did this person truly utter those words?” One of the three Sun elders, a man with a florid complexion and eyes like molten gold, spoke in a measured tone.

The Sun clan cultivator of the nascent soul stage who had intervened with Wang Lin hastily nodded. “This humble one is certain. The man said, ‘Once is enough. Let it not happen again!'”

A snort of disdain emanated from a second elder, clad in robes of jade green. His eyes flashed with icy light as he said, “It seems someone wishes to test the strength of the Sun clan! This individual, capable of shattering a golden core with a single glance and forcing three nascent souls to retreat with a step, must surely have reached the nascent transformation stage!”

“So what if he has achieved nascent transformation? Our Ancestor Sun still lives, and we have the protection of that esteemed senior for a century. Even the Illusion Clan of Thousand Illusion Star dares not provoke him. With his presence, our Sun clan will not crumble!” The third elder, a man of placid demeanor, declared.

“What is this person’s name?” The red-faced elder spoke for the second time.

The cultivators below fell silent. Finally, the nascent soul elder grimaced. “We do not know his name. However, this member of our extended family seemed to share some words with him. Perhaps she knows.”

The red-faced elder’s gaze settled upon Qing Yi.

“Hmm?”

Qing Yi started slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head. “This humble one does not know…”

“Such audacity!” The red-faced elder’s eyes narrowed. With his experience, he immediately perceived the girl’s deception.

Qing Yi lowered her head, a bitter expression on her face. “This humble one truly does not know.”

The red-faced elder scoffed and rose to his feet. “Let this matter be set aside for now. I have already informed the clan. A nascent transformation cultivator will arrive here soon. As for this member of our extended family, since her heart harbors dissent, she shall be expelled from the Sun clan! I intend to discover what gives this person the right to utter such arrogant words! On Ran Yunxing, no one speaks to the Sun clan in this manner!”

North of Qishui City, in the Wang family compound, the previous plaque had been removed. A new one adorned the entrance, bearing the inscription “Wang Residence,” penned personally by Wang Lin.

Wang Lin had retained the same servants and attendants, diminishing the air of desolation.

Late at night, under the silvery moonlight, father and son sat facing each other in the study of the backyard.

“Ping’er, nineteen years of ordinary life, eight years of witnessing the world’s true face, I shall now grant you thirty years of prosperity. A life should contain joy, sorrow, anger and pain, and you must know them all. Both wealth and poverty as well.” Wang Lin spoke calmly.

Wang Ping pondered for a long while, then smiled, a spark of understanding in his eyes. “Father, is this to compensate for preventing me from cultivating?”

Wang Lin gazed at Wang Ping and slowly said, “Yes.” His eyes drifted past Wang Ping, following the moonlight beyond the window. In a place unseen by Wang Ping, a tinge of sorrow rose.

The sorrow was profound, so intense that it remained unfelt by others. Wang Lin concealed everything within his heart, despite knowing Ping’s tenacity to cultivate and the subtle grudge he hid deep down.

“Ping’er, it’s not that I forbid you to cultivate… it is that… you cannot cultivate…” Wang Lin sighed in his heart, his eyes filled with unyielding sorrow.

“Father, what does it mean to be prosperous?” Wang Ping softly asked.

“What kind of prosperity do you desire?” Wang Lin asked in a calm voice.

“Father once taught me that a man must strive against the heavens and not yield to their oppression. When faced with a mountain, we must scale it; when faced with a river, we must cross it; when faced with an ocean, we must traverse it. Facing the heavens and earth, we must never submit. Since you will not let me cultivate, then I will become the supreme amongst mortals!” Wang Ping looked into his father’s eyes.

“If you wish it, so be it!” Wang Lin closed his eyes.

Wang Ping had grown up. Under Wang Lin’s guidance, he was developing his own ideas. He was no longer the child who simply obeyed his father. He had his own thoughts and ambitions.

Wang Ping looked at his father and softly said, “I do not want the supremacy that is handed to me. I want to forge it myself!”

“It can be done…” Wang Lin said calmly. With a wave of his right hand, the phantom behind him stepped forward and merged into Wang Ping’s back.

“Carry this, and you can achieve anything on this Ran Yunxing.” Wang Lin stood up and left the study without glancing at Wang Ping. His back appeared slightly unsteady, touched with dejection.

Wang Ping opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent. He could only ask in his heart, “Father, you can give me everything… Then why… won’t you let me cultivate…? Cultivating isn’t for myself, but to honor the oath… To be by your side forever… You are too lonely, Father… But why…?”

Under the moonlight, Wang Lin stood in the courtyard, his shadow stretching long across the ground. He calmly returned to his room, lay on his bed, and softly said, “One day, you will understand. But I hope that day comes slowly, or perhaps, that you never know why…”

That night, Wang Ping remained sleepless.

Three days later, a figure arrived outside Qishui City. He was clad in black robes, and appeared old. He entered Qishui City and made his way toward the branch of the Sun Clan.

The Sun family’s branch in Qishui City welcomed him with a procession, with every cultivator in sight. Although they had anticipated the arrival of a nascent transformation cultivator, the three elders were shocked when they saw the person, and showed even more respect.

“Greetings, Vice Clan Head!”

It was Sun Qiming. Years ago, he had made a big contribution to the Sun Family by exposing Wang Lin. In addition to his profound cultivation, already at the nascent transformation late stage, Sun Xi had promoted him to the next in line as head of the clan.

Sun Qiming didn’t waste time with pleasantries, but directly asked, “Where is that man?” These younger family members did not know the full meaning of shattering a golden core with a single glance, but he knew that even he could do so. Then, without using any magic at all, forcing three nascent soul cultivators to retreat.

If he was casting spells to do that, then it would be understandable, but if it was true as the jade slip claimed, without using any magic at all, then aside from a Soul Transformation monster, no ordinary cultivator could do that.