Chapter 1

The Bai family, a prominent clan in Mufeng City, was well-known for its influence.

Apart from the city lord's residence, the majority of the city's trade, shops, banks, and martial arts venues were controlled by the Bai family and two other prominent clans, with the Bai family being the most influential, leading the three major clans.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall of the Bai family was oppressive, the air heavy with tension. Several elders and high-ranking members of the Bai family were present, with a middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table. He had thick eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, but his thin lips and hooked nose gave him a somber appearance.

This man was Bai Shifeng, the acting head of the Bai family.

In the main hall, almost everyone was looking at a young boy standing in the center. He appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, with a slender build, smooth black hair, and an ordinary face, but his eyes were exceptionally clear and bright. However, at this moment, his face was pale, his fists clenched, and he was gritting his teeth.

"Sun Sheng, you should understand our meaning. The family does not support those who are useless. With your current actions, to put it bluntly, you have no value at all. Moreover... you do not belong to our Bai family. After a discussion among the elders, we have found a place for you in the southern part of the city. Take the severance pay and leave on your own," said Bai Shifeng, a mocking smile on his lips.

The other high-ranking members of the family also looked at the young boy named Sun Sheng in silence, some with pity, others with ridicule.

Sun Sheng clenched his fists, a cold smile on his face.

Not supporting the useless... what a fine way to call someone useless!

To be precise, Sun Sheng did not belong to the Bai family. His mother was a member of the Bai family, the eldest daughter, Bai Ling, who was Bai Shifeng's sister.

Over a decade ago, Bai Ling, despite the family's opposition, married a wandering man, Sun Zhengyang, Sun Sheng's father. Later, she gave birth to Sun Sheng, and after him, a younger sister. Sun Sheng was the eldest, so those who knew him called him "Dasha" (Big Sheng).

Sun Sheng was not an ordinary person. In this world, all high-ranking figures practiced qi gong. The Bai family, being a prominent clan in Mufeng City, was no exception.

Originally, Sun Zhengyang, Sun Sheng's father, was not well-liked in the Bai family, but after Sun Sheng was born, he displayed extraordinary talent in qi gong at the age of four.

The initial stages of qi gong practice are divided into four sub-stages: drawing qi, gathering qi, moving qi, and refining qi. Beyond that is the stage of bursting qi, where qi gong is released from the body, bursting out of the flesh with powerful destructive force, capable of injuring from a distance and shattering rocks.

After bursting qi, one enters the true stage of qi gong practice, converting qi gong into mystic qi. This is the common form of qi gong in this world. Mystic qi is used to refine the body, divided into nine stages. Only by refining all nine stages to their peak can one become a true qi gong master, revered by thousands.

At the age of four, Sun Sheng learned the Dragon-Tiger Qi Gong of the Bai family, displaying astonishing talent. He could draw qi in a month, gather qi in half a year, and move qi in a year. By the age of six, he could refine qi.

Subsequently, at the age of seven, Sun Sheng successfully burst qi and, in just three months, converted qi gong into mystic qi, beginning to refine his body with mystic qi.

This extraordinary talent was not just rare in the Bai family but also in Mufeng City and even within an eight-thousand-mile radius. Sun Sheng's talent was one in ten thousand.

Bai Huatian, the head of the Bai family and Sun Sheng's grandfather, placed great importance on Sun Sheng and cultivated him with all his might.

Sun Sheng did not disappoint. By the age of twelve, he had reached the seventh stage of mystic qi refinement, attracting the attention of the Ziyang Sect, a prestigious sect located thousands of miles away.

The Ziyang Sect, within a radius of several thousand miles and even in the country of Chu, was a top-tier sect, practicing the most powerful and yang qi gong. It was said that the experts of the Ziyang Sect could move mountains and fill seas, using qi gong to perform powerful spells, burning entire mountain ranges.

The Ziyang Sect offered the Bai family four spots, specially admitting four members of the Bai family as disciples, all because they saw potential in Sun Sheng.

However, this trip to the Ziyang Sect became a turning point in Sun Sheng's life. During the sect's evaluation, Sun Sheng defended two members of the Bai family, offending a true disciple of the Ziyang Sect. The true disciple, relying on his age and strength, fought Sun Sheng, causing him to spit blood and crush his dantian, breaking one of his legs.

As a result, among the four members of the Bai family, Sun Sheng and two others were rejected, while only one girl was favored by the Ziyang Sect and admitted.

Sun Sheng was carried back to the Bai family. Although Bai Huatian, the head of the Bai family, did his best to save him, stabilizing his dantian, Sun Sheng could no longer practice qi gong. His dantian, though intact, had cracks and could not store qi.

Sun Sheng did not give up. For two years, he persisted in practicing, more diligently than anyone else, waking up earlier than the rooster and sleeping later than it. However, his former talent was gone. His damaged dantian kept him at the stage of moving qi, unable to make any further progress.

Now, in the main hall of the Bai family.

Sun Sheng's body trembled violently. He asked himself if everything he had done was worth it.

He had suffered for the Bai family, but now, at his lowest point, the Bai family was about to abandon him...

Unfortunately, his parents were not around...

After his mother, Bai Ling, gave birth to a younger sister, his father, Sun Zhengyang, mysteriously disappeared with the younger daughter. A month later, Bai Ling left to find her husband and daughter and never returned.

It had been ten years, and there was no news of them. Even the Bai family had given up on them.

Now, Sun Sheng was about to be abandoned by the Bai family. Who would speak for him? Who would protect him, an orphan who had lost both parents? For years, he had relied on his own efforts to practice and earn his status and respect.

But now, all the glory he had earned was shattered two years ago during the sect's trip.

"Sun Sheng, do you have any objections?" Bai Shifeng frowned, seeing Sun Sheng hesitate, and his displeasure showed.

"Sun Sheng, you must understand. The Bai family is a prominent clan. You are no longer the genius you once were. Staying in the Bai family will only invite gossip, which is for the sake of the Bai family's reputation and your own dignity. Living alone might actually be better," said Bai Shimin, standing next to Bai Shifeng.

He was Sun Sheng's third uncle, now sternly warning him, his face cold and his eyes filled with disdain.

"Do you not want to leave? You are not even a member of our Bai family. Staying here would only waste money on you every month," said a woman, Bai Shimin's wife and Sun Sheng's third aunt, her tone harsh and her disgust evident as she glanced at Sun Sheng and turned away.

"What more do you want? The Bai family has been generous to you, building a house for you in the southern part of the city and giving you an acre of land. Oh, and the ox in the backyard, which you picked up as a child, can also be taken with you," said Bai Shimin, waving his hand at Sun Sheng.

Bai Shifeng, the acting head, tapped his fingers on the table, frowning and hesitating before saying, "How about this? I'll give you ten third-grade spirit herbs as severance pay. Is that acceptable?"

"What! Ten third-grade spirit herbs? That's too much, Brother. My son only gets two third-grade spirit herbs a month. Giving this useless person ten is a waste!" Bai Shimin's wife immediately protested, her words harsh and her ridicule of Sun Sheng unhidden.

"These ten third-grade spirit herbs might help you earn some small money, enough to support yourself. Don't linger any longer," said Bai Shifeng, his disdain for Sun Sheng growing.

In the main hall, Sun Sheng's chest heaved with anger. He hated how the Bai family treated him, disregarding the reputation he had earned for them and the injuries he had suffered protecting their descendants. Now, they were ready to kick him while he was down.

Finally, Sun Sheng took a deep breath and said, "Fine, I will leave. The Bai family treats me like this, and I have no complaints. To you, I am indeed worthless. But I, Sun Sheng, though young, am not without ambition. I hope that one day, you will not regret it!"

With that, Sun Sheng turned and limped out of the hall, his left leg damaged and never fully healed, leaving a lasting injury.

"Ha, still not convinced? If you're so principled, why don't you leave naked? Don't touch a single thing from our Bai family!" Sun Sheng's third aunt sneered.

Sun Sheng reached the door, glanced back, and his eyes turned cold. This cold gaze, like a thousand-year ice cave, made his third aunt shiver and step back.

"Hmph!" Sun Sheng sneered and walked away without looking back.

Watching Sun Sheng's back, everyone in the main hall fell silent. Bai Shifeng, Bai Shimin, and the other elders of the Bai family all breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing satisfaction.

Only Sun Sheng's third aunt, with a venomous look, gritted her teeth and muttered, "That brat has some nerve, daring to glare at me. Does he still think he's the former prodigy? My son, Bai Zhanfei, is much stronger than him. He should give him a good lesson. A cripple like him dares to be so arrogant."