Shen Li, a man who rarely betrayed his emotions, had lost his composure for the first time.

The position of family successor—a title that should have been his—had now fallen into the hands of another. And that person was none other than the good-for-nothing younger brother he had always despised.

He had painstakingly schemed and maneuvered for years for this very position. Now, all of it had been washed away in an instant, all because of this single event.

If it were anyone else, their Dao Heart would likely have collapsed, leading to Qi Deviation. If not for Shen Xing’s intervention, Shen Li’s cultivation path would have been completely tainted by an inner demon, leaving him with no possibility of further advancement.

After regaining his calm, Shen Li fell silent.

Shen Xian looked at him with a faint smile, not forgetting to twist the knife. “Second Brother, do you remember our conversation in front of the Treasure Pavilion that day?”

Since the veil of cordiality had already been torn away, there was no longer any need to feign brotherly affection.

Shen Li felt a tightness in his chest, nearly coughing up a mouthful of stagnant blood.

But… in the end, he did not lash out.

The Fifth Elder, standing nearby, frowned and questioned, “What exactly happened within the Ancestral Land? Why did you receive the blessing?”

“I don’t know,” Shen Xian shrugged.

Normally, upon leaving the Ancestral Land, all memories of the trial would completely vanish, so it was natural he wouldn’t know.

But in truth, Shen Xian’s memories had not disappeared. Because he had obtained the key to the Ten Thousand Arts Pavilion, along with the Li Fire True Seal and the Eight Trigrams Primordial Dao Scripture, the formation had spared his mind.

The Fifth Elder was momentarily speechless. His Nascent Soul divine sense swept over Shen Xian. Upon seeing that his spiritual root had actually transformed into a second-grade one, he was both shocked and furious.

“What a waste! Such a waste!” His wrinkled old face flushed red. “If Li’er had received the blessing, with his aptitude, he could have transformed into a Heavenly Spiritual Root at the very least! For you to only gain a second-grade spiritual root is simply squandering the ancestors’ grace!”

The importance of the founding family head’s blessing was evident just by looking at Shen Xing. The Fifth Elder had long sided with Shen Li and was now indignant on his behalf.

Shen Xian didn’t mind. A lazy smile played at the corner of his mouth as he retorted, “The Fifth Elder is so worked up; if one didn’t know better, they’d think you were the one who missed out on the blessing.”

“You!” The Fifth Elder trembled with rage, his beard quivering and his turbid eyes filled with venom. “You ignorant brat! Do you think a second-grade spiritual root qualifies you for the position of family head? Your current cultivation realm is still far from sufficient!”

Among those present, his seniority was the highest. At this moment, he was impatient to assert his authority.

“Oh?” Shen Xian raised an eyebrow and took a step closer. “Is even gaining the recognition of the founding family head insufficient qualification?”

The Fifth Elder was taken aback for a moment before becoming furious with shame. “Nothing but opportunism! If Li’er had—”

“If, if, if,” Shen Xian interrupted impatiently, mimicking the Elder’s shrill tone. “If the Fifth Elder hadn’t been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Realm for sixty years back then, you’d probably have broken through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul by now, right?”

He had already witnessed this person’s true colors earlier. Now that he had received the founding family head’s blessing and possessed the status of the family successor, there was no longer any need to be deferential.

These words stabbed into the Fifth Elder’s sore spot like a knife. His face instantly turned ashen. “You little beast! You…”

“Enough. What’s done is done. Let us discuss matters further after returning home,” Shen Xing spoke calmly, putting an end to the farce.

Regardless of personal feelings, the matter was settled and could not be changed. All they could do now was let things take their natural course. After all, this third brother was also a direct descendant of the Shen Family; it wouldn’t fundamentally affect the family’s arrangements.

The Fifth Elder immediately fell silent, as if frozen.

Although his own status was esteemed, he dared not act recklessly in front of Shen Xing—the possessor of an Innate Dao Body and a future Immortal Venerable.

Only after Shen Xing spoke did everyone snap back to attention and prepare to depart on the spirit vessel.

The spirit vessel cut through the sea of clouds, its gilded railings reflecting the glow of the setting sun.

Shen Xian and Ye Qingxian stood side by side on the right side of the deck. Their robes fluttered and tangled in the fierce winds, yet they always maintained a precise distance of three inches between them.

In the distance came the murmurs of the stewards, while between them, there was only the howling wind.

To outsiders, their memories had been erased; it wasn’t convenient to speak of certain details. But Shen Xian remembered how she had covered for him on the Heaven-Reaching Staircase.

“Thank you,” he transmitted secretly via voice transmission.

With this Female Emperor’s strength, the formations likely couldn’t restrict her; she almost certainly retained her memories.

Ye Qingxian’s lowered eyelashes cast shadows like butterfly wings on her cheeks. She gazed at the faintly visible mountain peaks amidst the sea of clouds. Only after the third wispy cloud drifted past did she speak.

“I was merely fulfilling my promise.”

A slight smile touched Shen Xian’s lips as he teased, “So, next time I ask for your help, will I need to offer an even more valuable gift?”

“Naturally,” Ye Qingxian replied coolly. Her gaze remained fixed on the distance, her indifferent face giving no hint as to her thoughts.

How much truth or falsehood lay in those words remained unknown to anyone else.

Shen Xian gave a light laugh.

This was for the best.

On another part of the spirit vessel, Shen Li stood in the shadows. His knuckles dug deeply into the gilded railing, leaving five savage claw marks on the dark ironwood surface.

He stared at that perfect pair in the distance. A coppery-sweet taste surged up in his throat—the backlash from the turmoil in his Dao Heart.

“Shen Xian…” He ground the name between his teeth as if chewing on shattered bone.

Decades of meticulous scheming and maneuvering were now utterly destroyed in an instant.

The most agonizing part was that he couldn’t remember what had happened within the Ancestral Land at all. He only knew that none of his trusted confidants had emerged alive.

The fierce wind whipped up the disheveled hair at his temples, revealing eyes bloodshot with rage.

A memory suddenly flashed back to that day at the Treasure Pavilion…

Shen Xian’s lazy voice echoed in his mind: “The ways of fate are unpredictable. Perhaps our founding ancestor saw my sincerity and bestowed upon me an opportunity?”

At that time, he had dismissed it as delusional ravings; now, those words had become poisonous thorns piercing his heart meridian.

The Heart-Eroding Blade within its sheath sensed its master’s killing intent and seeped out wisps of ink-green poisonous mist.

Shen Li’s gaze flickered uncertainly as schemes ran wildly through his mind.

He absolutely could not allow this person to return alive to the family.

Once they arrived at the family estate and matters were settled beyond dispute, he would have no further chance to act.

He understood clearly: now that Shen Xian possessed a second-grade spiritual root and had access to family resources, given time, he would inevitably surpass him. And then, Shen Li would be trampled underfoot by this person for the rest of his life.

This was something Shen Li could not endure.

He must strike first. As long as he eliminated this person, the position of family successor would still be his.

By then, even if he bore the infamy of fratricide, given how things stood, no one would dare say much about it.

A dead person held no value!

Shen Li understood the convoluted workings within great families all too well.

He calculated secretly: First, I cannot make a move aboard this spirit vessel because Big Brother would certainly intervene.

I can only delay his return home or find some way before reaching the estate to force a stop somewhere along the journey…

Schemes churned frantically within Shen Li’s mind. Having nearly suffered a Dao Heart collapse, yet adjusting rapidly with Shen Xing’s help, he soon formulated a plan.

Stealthily taking out a communication talisman, he used his divine sense to infuse it with a message and sent it outwards.

Looking again toward Shen Xian’s back, cold murderous intent filled the depths of his eyes.

Next… you will die without a doubt!