The assassination attempt on the guards, despite becoming public knowledge, ultimately went nowhere.

The reason was simple: the man behind it was none other than the future head of the Shen Family.

And who in the entire clan would raise a fuss over a few guards for the sake of a complete waste of space?

Even if some suspected Shen Li, who would dare openly accuse him without concrete evidence?

Shen Xian had anticipated this outcome long ago.

He wasn’t angry in the slightest—in fact, he was unnervingly calm.

The furious outbursts of the powerless were meaningless. If you truly wanted to defeat an opponent, you had to strike where it hurt the most.

So he waited.

He waited for the day the Ancestral Rite Ceremony would begin.

Meanwhile, Shen Li, having just returned to the family estate, was summoned to the study by Shen Xiong.

His heart sank. He inwardly cursed those incompetent guards for letting the matter escalate this far.

If not for his status as the heir, he would have already been thrown into the Icy Pool as punishment.

“Father, I truly know nothing about this,” Shen Li declared the moment he entered, his expression a perfect blend of innocence and sincerity. “If it were truly my doing, would my methods have been so clumsy? Someone must be framing me!”

He delivered his lines with such conviction, one would think he had absolutely no connection to the affair.

Shen Xiong sat calmly behind his rosewood desk, lightly tapping his knuckles on the surface. His gaze was deep and unfathomable.

He knew this son of his all too well.

“This matter ends here,” Shen Xiong said slowly, his voice low and authoritative. “But… you are the future head of the Shen Family. If you continue to leave yourself so open to criticism, how will the rest of the clan view you?”

The patriarch had high hopes for this son, but his recent behavior had been a profound disappointment.

Shen Li’s heart skipped a beat.

His father’s words sounded casual, but they were laced with a subtle warning.

He understood perfectly. His father didn’t care about the outcome of his schemes, only whether those schemes were worthy of a family heir.

He had let him down.

Shen Li quickly lowered his head, adopting a respectful posture. “This son will never forget Father’s teachings.”

Shen Xiong’s gaze was cold and piercing as he looked down upon him, his emotions unreadable.

“Hmph. First, prove yourself in the Ancestral Rite Ceremony,” Shen Xiong said sharply, each word like a blade. “If you cannot even gain the approval of the First Ancestor, then perhaps your position as heir should be given to someone more deserving.”

Shen Li’s pupils contracted.

His father had been so direct!

This was no longer a gentle reprimand—it was a blatant threat.

He cursed inwardly, furious with himself for not dealing with that good-for-nothing properly from the start. Now, he was the one getting scolded by his father.

Shen Li immediately bowed deeply, his voice firm. “Father, rest assured. This son will absolutely earn the First Ancestor’s approval!”

He had prepared meticulously for the Ancestral Rite Ceremony. He was confident, seeing almost no room for error.

Shen Xiong glanced at him, then added, “Go find your elder brother and ask for his help.”

Despite his stern words, he still sincerely hoped this son would distinguish himself and shoulder the family’s burdens.

After all, his performance was usually quite good, rarely causing disappointment—except when it came to Shen Xian. In that, he had acted rather disgracefully.

This was precisely what Shen Li had intended to do upon his return. He replied respectfully, “Thank you, Father.”

As he turned to leave, a dark glint flickered in his eyes.

It was all that waste of space’s fault!

…

As dusk settled, Shen Li arrived at a quiet, elegant courtyard.

It was surrounded by a grove of lush, upright bamboo that brimmed with vitality.

This was Shen Xing’s greatest love.

According to him, the path of cultivation should mirror the bamboo—humble and open-minded, ascending step by step, unyielding in the face of wind and frost.

Shen Li adjusted the silver serpent patterns embroidered on his dark purple robe and stopped just before the courtyard gate.

“Elder Brother, are you here?” His voice was neither humble nor arrogant, yet it carried a warmth reserved only for Shen Xing.

The courtyard gate swung open silently, and a wave of spiritual energy mingled with the faint scent of sandalwood washed over him.

Shen Li looked up to see Shen Xing playing the zither beneath a thousand-year-old spirit tree. The silver patterns on his black brocade robe flowed like liquid mercury with his movements, and a streak of his signature golden light danced between the strings.

“Second Brother, you’ve come at just the right time,” Shen Xing said, his music continuing without pause. The corner of his eye lifted into a smile as warm as a spring breeze. “I have just acquired a new piece, ‘Crane’s Cry from the Nine Hills.’ Please, have a listen.”

Shen Li sat on a nearby stone bench, the faint glow of his Heart-Eroding Blade flickering for a moment at his waist.

The zither music drifted through the air like a melody from the heavens, effortlessly soothing the mind and making one feel as if they were soaring through the clouds.

Only when the final note faded did Shen Li return to his senses, feeling utterly refreshed and invigorated.

He smiled. “Elder Brother, your skill with the zither grows ever more refined. I fear there is no one in all of Azure Province who can match you.”

Shen Xing smiled faintly. “Just Azure Province?”

He gazed into the distant sky, his eyes deep and profound, radiating an aura of immense power. “My ambition,” he said calmly, “encompasses the entire continent.”

Shen Li stared in awe, filled with admiration. He quickly replied, “Elder Brother is right. My own vision is too narrow.”

“You came to see me about the Ancestral Rite Ceremony, did you not, Second Brother?” Shen Xing withdrew his gaze and asked with a smile.

“As expected, nothing can be hidden from Elder Brother,” Shen Li replied respectfully.

At that moment, the zither strings trembled.

Shen Xing gently swept his wide sleeves, and all seven strings glowed with a golden light. “What do you believe the ancestors value most?”

“Bloodline? Natural talent?” Shen Li narrowed his eyes, his emerald pupils barely visible in the deepening twilight.

“Cause and effect,” Shen Xing replied. The golden glow at his fingertips transformed into wisps of light, weaving intricate star maps in the air. “Bloodlines fade and talents decay, but cause and effect…” He suddenly turned to Shen Li, his eyes as deep and mysterious as a bottomless pool. “Endures for eternity.”

Shen Li’s breath hitched. “Please enlighten me, Elder Brother.”

“Within the ancestral grounds, everything leaves a trace. Though I cannot recall the exact events, looking back, I know this: if you wish to pass, the key is to pay attention to every detail. Each trial has its own true meaning,” Shen Xing said calmly.

Shen Li couldn’t help but sit up straighter, suppressing his usual arrogance and listening like a dutiful student.

“I heard you recently obtained an ancient jade?” Shen Xing changed the subject. A perfectly translucent white jade pendant materialized in his palm. “This Tai Xu Yin of mine should complement it quite well.”

The jade pendant floated toward Shen Li, the golden threads within its core flowing like living things.

Just as Shen Li reached for it, Shen Xing spoke again. “Place this over your heart during the final rite. It will help you…”

He chuckled softly, his tone as gentle as if he were discussing the weather. “…see things more clearly.”

Shen Li took the jade pendant. Instantly, he felt his mind clear, and all the resentment he held for Shen Xian vanished completely.

He suddenly understood his elder brother’s intention.

This jade pendant could both enhance one’s connection with the ancestors and… sever certain unwanted ties.

“Thank you, Elder Brother, for your guidance,” Shen Li said, rising to his feet and bowing. The Heart-Eroding Blade in his sleeve pulsed with a faint glow.

“Second Brother,” Shen Xing spoke again, his eyes deep and unreadable, his tone calm yet firm. “You are the future head of the Shen Family. You… cannot afford to lose.”

Shen Li’s heart jolted. He stood tall and declared earnestly, “Elder Brother, rest assured. I will not disappoint you in the Ancestral Rite Ceremony.”

“Go, then,” Shen Xing said with a wave of his hand.

Shen Li departed.

The moment he stepped out of the bamboo grove, he breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of the treasure his elder brother had gifted him, he felt his confidence in the upcoming ceremony swell.

As for the only variable… that good-for-nothing was nothing to fear