The vast Xianyun Continent thrives on cultivation. Seeking the elusive road to immortality, countless people throw themselves into the path without hesitation.

In Baiyue City of Heilong County under the Chu Kingdom, the Larson Family’s discussion hall was filled with tense silence.

At the head seat sat Benjamin Larson, the current family head. His jet-black hair streamed down his robes, eyes sharp and oppressive. Just sitting there, he gave off a choking dominance—like everything had to flow through his hands.

Elders sat beside him, while down the steps were the clan’s core members.

A teenage boy in rough clothes stood at the hall’s center. Sharp features, pale skin, and a cold edge to his handsome face—all gave him a quietly stubborn air. His thick brows lifted slightly, long lashes casting shadows over a pair of alert, dark eyes.

This was Dougie Larson, son of the former family head Chandos Larson. Ten years ago, Chandos lost his mind during training and vanished. That’s when Benjamin took over.

Since then, Benjamin systematically suppressed Chandos’s bloodline, and Dougie was no exception. Five years back, his cultivation collapsed. Any energy entering his dantian vanished like smoke.

“Benjamin, quit circling around. Why call us here today?” asked a fat, white-haired elder—Eldon Larson, the clan’s Grand Elder.

“Yeah, spit it out. We’ve got work to do,” others echoed impatiently.

Benjamin’s gaze landed on Dougie. He tapped the arm of his chair for a moment, then said calmly, “Here’s the matter. Dougie killed the mount of Miss Flynn from the Fang family. A tier-two Gale Roc—equal in power to a late-stage Mortality Shedding cultivator. Now, the Fangs want us to hand him over. And don't forget, Danielle Flynn’s master is the Grand Elder from Ziyun Peak of Tai Xuan Sect.”

“What? That useless brat killed a tier-two Gale Roc?”

Around the hall sneers spread like fire. Even some accomplished cultivators wouldn’t dare take on such a beast. No one believed the broken Dougie managed it.

Benjamin looked at Dougie. “Well then, why don’t you tell us how you killed it?”

Dougie raised his head, eyes like stars.

He scanned all present with calm before speaking, “Family Head, I swear it wasn’t me.”

“Dougie, watch your tone!” someone barked before he could say more.

The voice came from a youth about his age—Callum Larson, Benjamin’s second son, already at Qi Condensation level six.

“What’s wrong with my tone?” Dougie asked flatly.Dougie Larson shot a calm glance at Callum Larson, then looked straight at Benjamin Larson. “Patriarch, these past few months I haven’t stepped outside the family estate, not even once. The entry records can prove that. I had no chance to do anything!”

“Still trying to worm your way out of it?” Callum scoffed. “Danielle Flynn’s mount flew into your spirit field and ate poisoned grain. That’s why it died. You didn’t need to leave the estate for that.”

“Oh?” Dougie raised an eyebrow, eyes locking onto Callum’s smug face. A cold smile creeped onto his lips. “Then tell me—how’d her damn bird get into my field in the first place? That thing’s huge. You mean to say not one of our guards stopped it? What were they doing—sleepwalking?”

“Enough!” Benjamin Larson snapped, his tone cold and flat. “Dougie, start talking. As for the guards, yes, they held back. That Windstorm Eagle is a second-tier beast—fast and fierce. It’s not entirely their fault they missed it. Now you, poisoning the spirit grain—what’s your motive?”

“So what if the beast died eating our grain? Their own damn beast broke in. Why should we answer to the Flynn family for that? They brought this on themselves.”

Dougie stood tall, staring Benjamin down without flinching.

“Trash like you should be kneeling by now!” Callum barked.

“I’ve done nothing wrong—why should I kneel?” Dougie’s cold glare didn’t waver.

“Impudent!” Two guards lunged forward, grabbing Dougie’s arms, trying to force him down.

“Get the hell off me!”

Dougie roared, his voice booming like thunder. The sheer force made the guards flinch and step back. In that instant, he radiated a wild, dangerous edge—like a cornered beast ready to bite.

“You’re just a cripple! Still think you can throw your weight around here?” Callum sneered.

“A cripple?”

Dougie’s eyes went cold. In a flash, he lunged and grabbed Callum by the throat. The sudden move froze the entire hall.

“Let go? You kidding me? I know what today’s about. You’ve all already made up your minds. No matter what I say, I’m dead either way.”

Dougie’s grip tightened as he leaned closer, his voice dripping venom. “And you? You think you’ve got the right to insult me? You had a silver spoon in your mouth from day one—dripping in spirit elixirs and popping pills like candy. You made it to Condensation level six, yet you can’t even kill a single tier-four beast. And you still strut around acting like some top genius? Pathetic. I’ve no idea where your smugness comes from.”“You…” Callum Larson’s face was pale, struggling to speak, but even breathing was hard.

“You what? Did I say anything wrong?” Dougie Larson narrowed his eyes, voice cold. “In this clan, plenty of cultivators at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Condensation fight better than you. They only lost to you to give your old man face. You, a worthless leech, living off the family name, always calling me trash? Between us, who’s really the waste? If I were you, I’d drown myself in a piss puddle.”

“Impudent!”

Eldon Larson’s furious roar echoed as he flicked his hand — a flash of white light struck Dougie's hand.

“Agh!” Dougie cried out, his grip on Callum's collar forced open by that strike.

Callum lunged back, finally freed.

“Courting death!” one of the guards by Dougie’s side stepped forward without warning.

“Bang!”

A fierce palm hit Dougie square in the chest. He flew across the hall, landing hard.

“Well done! Teach that trash a lesson!”

“Yeah! Talk big, now look at him!”

People around clapped and jeered.

“Pfft!” Blood gushed from Dougie’s mouth. He forced himself up, face twisted, glaring at Benjamin Larson, spitting venom: “Clan leader? Heh! You’re no leader — just a pile of crap with a title. And those useless elders? Swapping you out for pigs might’ve done more good. Hahaha… *cough cough*…”

More blood spilled from his mouth.

Callum roared and stormed over, aiming a brutal kick at Dougie's chest.

“Bang!” Dougie saw black and passed out instantly.

“Arrogant bastard! I’ll teach you to act tough!” Callum wasn't done. Though Dougie had fainted, he kept pounding him with fists and kicks. Fear still lingered — that moment when Dougie had nearly killed him.

“I’ll kill you!” Callum snapped, drawing a soft sword from his waist, swinging it down.

“Enough!” Benjamin shouted sharply.

Callum froze. Benjamin turned to the rest. “The meeting’s over.”

“Let’s go, let's go…”

Everyone got up and filed out, leaving the hall empty.

Eldon glanced at Benjamin. “What do you want to do with this disgrace?”

Benjamin looked down at the unconscious Dougie, eyes cold. “Send him to the Flynn family.”

The elders exchanged glances, then gave faint nods.