The spirit vessel cut through the sea of clouds, its gilded hull shimmering with a crimson, blood-like hue under the setting sun.

Shen Xing sat with his eyes closed in meditation when the communication jade slip hanging at his waist suddenly began to vibrate intensely.

“Hmm?”

His slender fingers lightly tapped the jade slip, and an urgent voice immediately exploded in everyone’s ears.

“Black Rock City is in crisis! The Blood Fiend Sect has joined forces with the Three Yin Sect to wreak havoc in the city. The person in charge has been killed. We request immediate support from the main family!”

Due to the ongoing Ancestral Worship Ceremony, many of the family’s higher-ups had been deployed to provide support, leaving various cities under the family’s jurisdiction vulnerable to attacks by evil cultivators.

Black Rock City was not far from their current location, which was why Shen Xing had received the message.

The Fifth Elder abruptly stood up, furious. “These evil cultivators are far too insolent!”

A sharp glint flashed in Shen Li’s eyes as he immediately stepped forward. “Elder Brother, we should provide support at once!”

His fingers moved slightly within his sleeve, and a hidden communication talisman quietly turned to ashes. “Black Rock City is the closest settlement to the Ancestral Lands. If it is slaughtered by evil cultivators, where will our family’s dignity be?”

Shen Xian watched coldly from the sidelines.

He was no stranger to the name “Blood Fiend Sect.” During his previous trip to the cave abode, he had encountered an assassination attempt by them.

And this time?

He sneered inwardly but showed nothing on his face, merely leaning lazily against the railing. “Second Brother is quite enthusiastic.”

“Silence!” The Fifth Elder shouted sternly. “This concerns the family’s interests. How can you treat it as a joke?!”

He turned to Shen Xing, his tone immediately becoming respectful. “Young Master, this old servant suggests we proceed at full speed. Since the enemy dares not attack openly, they must not be very strong. We can easily suppress them.”

Shen Xing’s gaze swept over everyone, lingering for a moment on Shen Li’s slightly tense shoulders.

“Then let’s go take a look,” he finally nodded, his voice as calm as still water. “Since Third Brother has gained the ancestors’ recognition, he should also witness how we handle family affairs.”

Since they were providing support, they would naturally go together. After all, they only had one Nascent Soul True Lord on their side. If they split up and fell into a trap set by the enemy, it would be disastrous.

Boom—

The spirit vessel suddenly changed direction, its formations fully activated as it sped toward Black Rock City.

Shen Li stood with his back to the others, a cold, sinister curve lifting the corner of his mouth.

Under the night sky, the spirit vessel descended upon Black Rock City.

The entire city had fallen into an eerie silence. The streets were thick with the metallic scent of blood, yet not a single soul was in sight.

With evil cultivators causing chaos, the common people were terrified to leave their homes at night. Only the Shen Family guards were still patrolling, their hearts filled with anxiety.

After all, even the city’s person in charge had been killed. If not for their duty to the family, they likely would have fled long ago.

It wasn’t until they saw the main family’s spirit vessel descending that these people finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s the Young Master! Wonderful, we are saved!” one of the family cultivators cried out with joy.

Within the Shen Family, Young Master Shen Xing was like a deity—an idol for countless cultivators and their anchor of stability.

The spirit vessel landed at the City Lord’s Manor.

Shen Xing immediately issued orders. “Fifth Elder, I must trouble you to patrol the perimeter once.”

“Young Master, rest assured. With this old man here, no one will dare to cause trouble!” the Fifth Elder responded confidently. The aura of a Nascent Soul True Lord erupted from him, shaking the surrounding area before he transformed into a streak of light and departed.

Following that, other stewards began contacting the local family cultivators, preparing to purge the evil cultivators from the city.

As for Shen Xian and the others, they took up residence in the City Lord’s Manor.

“The night is growing late. Let us settle in first,” Shen Xing said.

Shen Xian took Ye Qingxian directly to find a side chamber, intending to rest for the night. The Ancestral Land trial had been mentally and physically taxing; it was rare to have an opportunity to recuperate properly.

Behind them, Shen Li’s gaze remained fixed on Ye Qingxian.

If he wanted to deal with that waste, this woman was the biggest obstacle.

Although he didn’t know what had happened in the Ancestral Lands, he strongly suspected that it was because of her presence that all his trusted subordinates had perished there and that the waste had received the family head’s blessing.

However, with his strength alone, he might not be able to restrain her.

He needed Elder Brother to take action!

Having made up his mind, Shen Li looked toward Shen Xing, who was walking toward another room, and hurriedly followed.

When they reached the corridor walkway outside their rooms, Shen Li suddenly knelt with a heavy thud, his forehead striking hard against a bluestone slab.

“Elder Brother! This younger brother is guilty!”

Shen Xing paused slightly. Under the moonlight, his white robes remained spotless. “What is Second Brother doing?”

“The request for aid from Black Rock City… I arranged it,” Shen Li raised his head, his eyes bloodshot. “I bribed members of the Blood Fiend Sect into putting on this show, just so we could detain Third Brother here!”

As he spoke, he kowtowed three more times consecutively, blood seeping from the corner of his forehead.

Shen Xing sighed softly. A wisp of clear qi flew from within his sleeve, gently lifting Shen Li up. “There was no need for this.”

He had already vaguely sensed something amiss about the situation but hadn’t expected Shen Li to admit it outright.

“Elder Brother!” Shen Li lifted his head, straightening up, a look bordering on madness appearing on his face. “What right does that waste have to the position of family successor? I’ve risked life and limb for decades serving our clan, while all he does is laze around enjoying pleasures!”

“Only I am worthy of being the successor. Once he becomes head of the Shen Family, our clan will inevitably decline. I cannot accept this!”

His voice grew hoarse, like a wounded beast. “If Elder Brother is willing to help me restrain Ye Qingxian… after tonight, Shen Xian will never return home alive!”

Having come this far, Shen Li no longer concealed anything, laying out his entire scheme.

Because this was his final chance—succeed, or perish utterly!

Standing quietly beneath the corridor walkway, gazing down upon the kneeling figure before him, Shen Xing felt no ripples within his heart.

For decades, he had personally paved the path toward lofty heights for this younger brother, guiding him step by step until he reached his current standing.

All because attaining immortality required severing emotions.

And the path toward severing emotions first required nurturing them.

Just as a farmer plants rice in the spring and tends the fields in the summer, only then can he reap the harvest when the autumn sickle falls.

He had always maintained a close fraternal bond precisely so he could one day harvest the fruit leading toward his immortality.

Now, if he stood idly by and watched, decades of planning would go to waste completely.

Thus, he must intervene. He must let his younger brother know… just how much his Elder Brother loved him!

Only then could he forge the complete path toward severing emotions in the future.

“Ah.”

Shen Xing suddenly sighed softly—for reasons unknown—before slowly speaking. “You are my own flesh-and-blood younger brother. Naturally, I am unwilling to see you suffer.”

Upon hearing these words, Shen Li’s eyes suddenly erupted with a sickly, wild joy. The corners of his mouth twisted open, revealing stark white teeth. “I knew it! Elder Brother cares most about me!”

Since his childhood days, his father had been a strict disciplinarian, while his mother doted upon that waste, Shen Xian, instead. Only his Elder Brother had shown genuine warmth toward him, often offering guidance in his cultivation.

Even after obtaining the Innate Dao Body and achieving extraordinary accomplishments, Shen Xing still held him in high regard.

Like a father figure indeed—Shen Li revered and respected his Elder Brother immensely, viewing him as a deity.

Now, not only did he not blame him, but he was also willing to lend a hand. It made Shen Li realize just how important he was within his Elder Brother’s heart.

So what if that waste enjoyed their mother’s doting?

As long as his Elder Brother stood beside him, even receiving the blessings from the founding ancestor meant nothing whatsoever.

The position of family successor ultimately belonged rightfully to him alone.

All the negative emotions within his heart vanished without a trace, replaced instead by an air of smug satisfaction bordering on giddiness.

“Elder Brother, what plan do you have in mind?” he asked, rising to his feet.