Leaving his father’s residence, Shen Xian intended to visit his mother, as he hadn’t seen her since his return.

However, he was met with a closed door. Nangong Wan, still grieving the recent loss of her son, was in no mood to receive guests.

Shen Xian had no choice but to return to his own quarters.

As he strolled along the green jade corridor, he noticed the gazes directed at him had shifted entirely. They were no longer filled with the cold indifference of the past.

Several collateral family members who had been chatting nearby fell silent the moment they spotted him. They stood respectfully, heads bowed and breathing shallow, terrified of disturbing the newly appointed family heir.

Rounding an artificial hill, several young disciples practicing their swordplay immediately sheathed their weapons and bowed.

The leading youth hesitated for a moment before jogging up to catch him. “Third Young Master, my father asked me to present this Condensed Emerald Pill to you. He said it’s excellent for stabilizing one’s cultivation realm…”

The “father’s instruction” was a transparent excuse; the boy was clearly trying to curry favor.

Shen Xian didn’t take the pill. He didn’t even acknowledge the offer.

To him, such resources were utterly useless now. He no longer had Ye Qingxian around to “gift” them to in exchange for system rewards.

The walk back was a repetitive cycle of similar scenes. Clan members who once looked down on him now either avoided him out of shame or scrambled to please him. Even the passing maids bowed lower than usual, their eyes filled with a new, profound awe.

Upon reaching his courtyard, Xiang’er’s face lit up with pure joy.

“Young Master, you’re finally back!” she cried, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Shen Xian gave a slight nod. His gaze moved to the recliner in the courtyard, and he walked straight toward it.

Finally, he could have some peace and quiet.

Meow—

A sharp cat cry shattered the silence.

Perched atop the courtyard wall, the snow-white Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat glared down at him. Its golden pupils flashed with displeasure, silently demanding the whereabouts of its master.

Shen Xian suddenly remembered that the creature’s life token was still in Ye Qingxian’s possession.

“She has left for now,” he said flatly.

Ye Qingxian had departed for the Northern Region. There was no telling when they would meet again, which meant the cat’s beast-controlling ring couldn’t be removed anytime soon.

He had broken his promise yet again.

Meow! Meow!

The cat’s cries grew piercing as arcs of electricity flickered across its fur. It felt utterly deceived.

Shen Xian rubbed his nose. “Don’t worry. She won’t harm you. In fact, you’re practically free now.”

Crackle—

Electric arcs snapped in the air. The cat’s fourth-tier aura erupted, exerting a pressure as heavy as a mountain.

Shen Xian’s body stiffened. If his physique hadn’t been tempered by Numinous Fire, the sheer weight of the aura would have crushed his spirit.

“Don’t get excited!” Shen Xian soothed. “I promise I’ll get that ring back. It will just take time. She went to the Northern Region…”

The Northern Region was not a place for the weak. Cultivators from the outside were generally barred unless they had reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

The cat’s fur slowly smoothed down.

“Ten years. If you fail, I will tear you apart!”

A childish female voice rang out in Shen Xian’s mind—a telepathic message. Though the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat was a fourth-tier beast, it was still in its juvenile stage and could not yet speak aloud.

Shen Xian was surprised. It was the first time he had heard the creature “speak.”

“Alright,” he agreed readily.

For most cultivators, advancing a single minor realm in ten years was a feat worth praying for. For him, it was a low bar. If he hit a wall, he could just find more Dao Companions. The threat of a kitten was the least of his worries.

The cat leaped away but stayed within the courtyard. It knew that staying near Shen Xian guaranteed a steady supply of resources, which was better than fending for itself.

As the cat vanished into the shadows, Shen Xian thought of the Black Mystic Spirit-Seeking Tortoise still tucked away in his system space.

Now that he was the heir, he would soon move to a residence with richer spiritual energy. That would be the perfect place to raise the tortoise.

He slumped into his recliner and let out a long, satisfied sigh. Ye Qingxian was gone, but life was looking up.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting warm shadows across his face. For the first time in a long while, he set aside his schemes and enjoyed the rare tranquility.

In the days that followed, Shen Xian’s life underwent a total transformation.

First was his living situation. Three days later, a team of stewards escorted him to the Tianxuan Courtyard, located in the very heart of the family estate.

The area was saturated with high-grade spirit-gathering arrays and protected by barriers maintained by Nascent Soul elders. Even the decorative plants were rare spirit flora.

“Third Young Master,” the head steward said with a deep bow, gesturing toward the main building. “This is the Purple Energy Pavilion, prepared specifically for you by the Family Head’s order. It sits directly atop a minor spiritual vein node. The cultivation efficiency here is ten times higher than anywhere else.”

Shen Xian surveyed the ornate, masterfully crafted pavilion. A slight smile touched his lips.

Only a month ago, he had been the “trash” of the family who had to beg for a basic array. Now, he lived in the family’s premier cultivation sanctuary.

The ancestor’s blessing changed everything. It was no wonder Shen Li had been so desperate to steal it.

Then came the resources. The chief accountant personally delivered a new allowance list. When Xiang’er saw the numbers, she gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

His monthly stipend included three hundred mid-grade spirit stones, not to mention countless precious elixirs and talismans. At the bottom of the list, a handwritten note stated: Should special needs arise, the Young Master may draw from the main storehouse at any time.

His security was equally lavish. Four guards, all in the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, were permanently stationed outside his door. Their leader was a guest elder at the early Golden Core stage.

Despite the sudden luxury, Shen Xian didn’t change his ways.

Every morning, he slept until the sun was high in the sky. When he woke, he didn’t rush to cultivate. Instead, he sipped tea and admired the garden.

In the afternoons, he napped under the wisteria trellis. No matter how much Xiang’er nagged him about the spiritual vein being at its peak energy, he remained unmoved.

The clan members were baffled. Despite having the best resources in the province, he hadn’t even opened the jade case containing the Void Divine Art.

One day, the Fifth Elder visited, hoping to mend their relationship. He walked in just in time to see Shen Xian using top-grade beast stones… to feed a cat.

“Third Young Master! Those… those are top-grade beast stones!” the Fifth Elder cried out, his heart aching so much his beard trembled.

Beast stones were used to help high-level demonic beasts evolve. A single top-grade beast stone was worth a top-grade spirit stone.

Without looking up, Shen Xian tossed another one to the cat. “The kitty likes them. What can I do?”

Ever since Ye Qingxian left, the cat had been in a foul mood. To keep it from clawing his eyes out, he didn’t hold back on the treats. Thanks to his generosity, the cat’s anger had finally begun to cool.

So, under the bewildered and regretful eyes of the clan, Shen Xian continued his lazy existence.

Until one day, a vast torrent of power suddenly surged within his body…