1: The candle is about to go out

Great Qian Immortal Dynasty, Qianyuan Era, Year 3487, Southern Border, Baiyue Prefecture, Linjiang City.

Inside the Shen Family's deliberation hall, the atmosphere was deathly silent.

Sitting in the main seat of the hall, Shen Qiming, the Shen Family Head, looked haggard as he scanned the dozens of core Family members below.

His gaze finally settled on the white-haired elder beside him—Alchemist Chen, the only Second-Tier Alchemist in Linjiang City.

“Alchemist Chen, is there truly no chance for the Old Ancestor?” Shen Qiming's voice was hoarse.

Alchemist Chen sighed deeply and shook his head.

“Family Head Shen, Old Ancestor Zongdao suffered a deviation of Qi while cultivating his Cultivation Technique, damaging his Origin. I have exhausted everything I know, and can only use Medicinal Pills to barely sustain his life for one last year. After a year... prepare for the funeral.”

“One year... Is our Shen Family doomed?” An elderly clan elder beat his chest, tears streaming down his face.

The Laws of the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty were strict; a Family's status was determined by its Rank. A Family must possess a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to be rated as Ninth-Rank.

If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator dies, and no new Foundation Establishment Cultivator emerges within a year, the Immortal Dynasty will revoke their Rank and demote them to Unranked.

If the Shen Family is demoted to Unranked, they will become meat on the chopping block. The Lin Family, their mortal enemy in Linjiang City, would surely invade and carry out an act of annihilation.

The sole pillar of the Shen Family was the Old Ancestor, Shen Zongdao, who was in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

The Shen Family, a low-ranking Cultivation Family clinging to the edge of Ninth-Rank, possessed incomplete Cultivation Techniques and lost Pill Formulas. Now, their only Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor was also nearing the end of his life.

“Family Head, we cannot wait any longer!” A shrewd-looking middle-aged man stood up. He was Shen Qiwu, the Family's Steward.

“The Lin Family, our mortal enemy in Linjiang City, has recently been spreading rumors in the Market City, maliciously suppressing our businesses. They are just waiting for the Old Ancestor to fall so they can swallow us whole!”

“In my opinion, while the Old Ancestor is still alive, we should sell all our assets, move the entire clan, and seek refuge with the Zhang Family in the Prefecture City! Although we would be dependent on others, we could at least preserve the Shen Family Bloodline!”

This proposal caused an uproar in the hall.

“Rely on the Zhang Family? What's the difference between that and being a dog!”

“But if we don't rely on them, should we just wait for death? That Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Lin Family is at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. We couldn't beat him even when the Old Ancestor was well. Once the Old Ancestor is gone, what will we use to defend ourselves?”

“Our Shen Family ancestors fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood! How can we commit such an unfilial act?”

The arguments intensified. Shen Qiming's face was ashen, yet he said nothing. He knew this was merely drinking poison to quench thirst, but what other choice did he have?

Just then, a clear yet forceful voice rang out.

“Fifth Uncle, I disagree.”

Everyone looked over, seeing a young man dressed in green robes slowly stand up in the corner.

His name was Shen Yuanmo, twenty-one years old, with an Eighth Level Qi Refining Cultivation and Three Spiritual Root Aptitude.

According to the Shen Family's generation ranking, “Cheng Zong Qi Yuan, Ming Fa Zhen Wu,” he belonged to the Yuan Generation. He was also the only son of the Family Head Shen Qiming, and the Young Lord of the Shen Family.

“Yuan Mo, this is a clan deliberation. Children shouldn't interrupt.” Steward Shen Qiwu frowned.

“Fifth Uncle, I am not a child anymore.” Shen Yuanmo walked to the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over every clan member.

“I only ask one thing: Are you willing to hand over the Family's fate to others?”

“Are you willing to surrender the foundation passed down by our ancestors, live dependent on others, and merely linger on?”

“Are you willing to let your descendants be scorned as homeless dogs from the moment they are born?”

He posed three consecutive questions, each word striking at the heart.

The hall fell silent. The clan members who had been clamoring to seek refuge lowered their heads in shame.

“What good is being unwilling? Do you have a way for the Family to produce a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator within a year? Do you have a way to stop the Lin Family's annexation?” Steward Shen Qiwu's face flushed red.

“I do not.” Shen Yuanmo admitted frankly, then changed the subject.

“However, by defending Linjiang City to the death, we still have a slim chance of survival. Selling off our assets to seek refuge is seeking our own doom.”

He looked at his father, Shen Qiming, and bowed deeply.

“Father, Uncles and Elders. I, Shen Yuanmo, am willing to sign a Military Pledge. If I cannot achieve a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment within one year and maintain the Family's Rank, I will take my own life before the Ancestral Shrine to atone for this failure!”

The entire hall was stunned. Everyone looked at this usually quiet Young Lord with complicated expressions.

Shen Qiming trembled. Looking at his son's resolute figure, his eyes reddened.

He knew that Shen Yuanmo was using his own life to rally the scattered morale of the Family.

“Good!” Shen Qiming slammed his palm onto the table and stood up.

“A son of my Shen Family should have this kind of backbone! I issue this order: effective today, we shall retract all external businesses, cancel all holidays for Family disciples, and all resources shall be dedicated to Yuan Mo! Success or death within one year!”

...The night was deep.

Shen Yuanmo went alone to the Family's Scripture Pavilion.

This was where the Shen Family stored its Cultivation Techniques and Classics, but currently, it was covered in dust, and the air was thick with the smell of decaying paper.

He lit an Oil Lamp, and the dim yellow light illuminated the empty bookshelves.

There were only a handful of Cultivation Technique Jade Slips, all of them incomplete, common goods with low Cultivation efficiency, and even the risk of Qi Deviation.

This was the tragedy of a low-ranking Ninth-Rank Family.

True high-grade Cultivation Techniques, refined Pill Formulas, and powerful Formation Diagrams were all monopolized by high-ranking Aristocratic Families and Sects. They deliberately left flaws and created knowledge barriers, firmly trampling the lower-level Cultivators underfoot, ensuring they could never rise up.

Shen Yuanmo was a Transmigrator; he had arrived in this world from the moment he was born.

He held twenty-one years of genuine affection for this Family.

His father's expectations, the clan members' hopes, and the Old Ancestor's kindness were etched into his bones.

He wanted to protect this Family more than anyone, but reality was so cruel.

Three Spiritual Root Aptitude and Eighth Level Qi Refining—among his peers, he was already considered a Genius.

But to cross the Ninth Level of Qi Refining and then break through the Heavenly Barrier of Foundation Establishment within a year was nothing short of a pipe dream.

He sat on the floor, his finger tracing the bottom shelf, touching a dusty Ancient Beast-Skin Book, the *Crimson Sun Art*.

This was the ancestral Cultivation Technique passed down through generations of the Shen Family. It was said to have a mysterious Origin, but it was so incomplete that no one could comprehend it.

Old Ancestor Shen Zongdao had forcibly Cultivated this technique back then, which led to his Meridians being shattered and his Origin severely damaged.

Shen Yuanmo held the Cultivation Technique, which carried the Family's last hope, buried his face deep into it, and felt its rough texture and dusty scent.

Why?

Why give me a new life, only to make me face such a dead end?

Just as he sank into despair, a sudden change occurred!

Deep within his mind, the Soul belonging to another world generated a subtle, profound, and mysterious resonance with the damaged ancient text of the *Crimson Sun Art*.

Buzz—

It was as if something shattered deep within his Soul and then reassembled.

Shen Yuanmo suddenly lifted his head. The entire world had changed in his eyes.

At the same time, a massive influx of information flooded his mind.

[Golden Finger: Heaven-Defying Comprehension]

[Ability One, Insight into Origin: Instantly discerns the essential structure and energy flow of any Cultivation Technique, Pill Formula, Formation, or Magic Treasure, revealing all flaws.]

[Ability Two, Perfect Deduction: Can deduce and optimize any incomplete or low-level knowledge to the theoretical limit of the current Realm.]

[Ability Three, Learn by Analogy: Comprehending one Law allows for immediate understanding of multiple related Dao Rhythms through analogy.]

Shen Yuanmo sat blankly on the ground, allowing the lamp oil to burn out and darkness to consume him.

After a long time, he finally felt sharp, tearing headaches due to the excessive consumption of his Divine Sense.

But he smiled.

So, the Transmigrator's Soul was his greatest trump card!