20: The Useless Son-in-Law (Part 1)

Consciousness condensed once more within the endless darkness.

Wu Yun felt like a drop of water falling into a dead sea, enveloped by coldness and emptiness.

Scenes from his previous life flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern, finally freezing on the moment when the golden Dragon of national destiny wailed and shattered, and his own life force was severed.

All his efforts fell short.

Just a little bit more, and he could have stepped into that legendary Earth Spirit Realm.

【Reincarnation Mark being evaluated...】

Cold characters appeared in his consciousness.

【Third Life: Emperor Yunwu. Created an iron-blooded golden age, swallowed two Empires, expanded the territory by ten thousand li, and brought the national destiny to its peak. However, national destiny is not one's own Luck; it is ultimately an external force. His Foundation was unstable, he suffered a backlash from the curse, and the Breakthrough failed.】

【Comprehensive Evaluation: Yellow Grade Seven Stars.】

【Reincarnation Points obtained: 230.】

Yellow Grade Seven Stars?

A ripple of emotion stirred in Wu Yun's consciousness.

He had assumed that since he had become an Emperor, expanded his territory, and pushed an Empire to an unprecedented peak, he would at least receive a Profound Grade evaluation.

If he had broken through to the Earth Spirit Realm first and then turned around to annex those three Empires, the evaluation would likely have been at another level.

Unfortunately, his Luck was insufficient; everything was just empty talk.

"In the next life, I must max out my Luck."

He no longer hesitated.

【Reincarnation Points allocation complete.】

【Aptitude: 100 points.】

【family background: 50 points.】

【Comprehension Ability: 40 points.】

【Luck: 40 points.】

This time, he poured a full forty points into that attribute he had previously ignored.

The darkness before him was instantly swallowed by endless light.

...

Fourteen years passed in the blink of an eye.

In an antique, fragrant quiet room, a youth sitting cross-legged suddenly opened his eyes.

He raised his tender palm, and a cluster of crimson flames ignited from thin air, illuminating the entire room in a deep red.

Complex memories, like a bursting flood, surged into his mind.

I am... Su Yun.

And also Wu Yun, Li Yun, Lin Yun.

Spirit Transformation Realm.

A fourteen-year-old in the Spirit Transformation Realm, who had also awakened a special spiritual body called the "Profound Fire Physique."

"The start of this life is truly not bad."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the completely different architectural style outside.

Tianhuo Empire, Su Family.

In his memories, this Empire was one of the three great powers that had besieged the Shenwu Empire in his previous life. And the Su Family was one of the eight great Families within the Tianhuo Empire, although it was only ranked among the bottom four.

How ironic.

Information about this Family flashed through Su Yun's mind. It was said that the Su Family ancestors had been wealthy and powerful, giving birth to several Earth Spirit Realm kings, and at one point, it was the number one Family of the Tianhuo Empire, its prominence even overshadowing the royal Family.

It was just that the descendants were incompetent, each generation worse than the last, eventually falling to this state.

He quickly used his current identity as the "Genius Third Young Master" to inquire about the current situation of the Shenwu Empire through indirect questioning.

After he died, the Shenwu Empire, due to the severe damage to its national destiny, rapidly declined. The strongest Old Ancestor of the royal Family also perished due to the exhaustion of his Lifespan.

The current Empire's imperial power was crumbling, held by three factions.

One side was the royal supporters composed of his descendants and old subordinates like Prince Taiping.

One side was the Alliance composed of the remaining three of the original four great Families that had risen during the chaos.

And another side was the emerging force formed by the combination of various Sects and chambers of commerce.

"It has fallen apart."

Su Yun felt no great ripples in his heart. That life had already ended; what he needed to do now was to walk the path of this life well.

Just then, a respectful knock came from outside the door.

"Third Young Master, the Master asks you to go over. The Family's Secret Hall is opening today, and you should go choose a Cultivation Technique."

Su Yun's eyes flickered.

Secret Hall.

According to the rules of the Su Family, any direct descendant who breaks through to the Spirit Transformation Realm has one opportunity to enter the Secret Hall and switch to a new Cultivation Technique.

No matter how much the Su Family had declined, it was still a Family that had produced Earth Spirit Realm experts. Its inherited Earth Spirit Cultivation Technique was definitely much stronger than the lowest-level Earth Spirit Cultivation Technique of the Shenwu royal Family that he had cultivated in his previous life.

He pushed the door open, followed the servant, and walked towards the depths of the Family.

Outside the Secret Hall, many Su Family Disciples had already gathered, most of them there to watch the excitement.

Seeing Su Yun arrive, the crowd automatically parted to make a path, their gazes filled with a mixture of awe and envy.

"Young Master Su Yun is here!"

"A fourteen-year-old in the Spirit Transformation Realm, the first Genius of our Su Family in a hundred years!"

"Those Earth Spirit Old Ancestors back then were probably no better than this at fourteen, right?"

Amidst the compliments, only one gaze was full of malice.

Su Yun looked up and met the eyes of a tall and sturdy youth.

The eldest son of the Su Family, his big brother, Su Lie.

Su Yun was born to the Clan Chief and a concubine from a small Family, and since he was young, he had been bullied by this big brother and his mother. It was only when he revealed his unparalleled Cultivation talent that these days came to an end.

His rise made Su Lie feel a huge threat.

The position of Young Lord was in jeopardy.

Su Yun looked at the other person's expression, as if he wanted to eat him alive, and felt only amusement in his heart.

Just then, several Family Elders appeared and announced the opening of the Secret Hall.

An Elder looked at Su Lie and Su Yun and said earnestly, "You two are the most promising people of our Su Family's generation. You are also aware of the Family's current situation. Among the eight great Families, we are already at the bottom, our status is precarious, and we urgently need a true Genius to turn the tide."

"Within the Secret Hall lies the Earth Spirit Realm Legacy. Whoever can obtain its favor will be the future hope of the Su Family!"

Upon hearing this, Su Lie's breathing became rapid.

He stared fixedly at the Secret Hall gate, his fists clenched tightly.

This was his only chance!

As long as he could obtain the Earth Spirit Realm Cultivation Technique, his position would be as stable as Mount Tai, and no one would ever be able to threaten him again!

"I will go in first!"

As the eldest son, Su Lie was the first to walk into the Secret Hall.

Outside, the Disciples began to discuss.

"Do you think the eldest young master will succeed?"

"It's difficult; no one in our Su Family has been able to trigger the Earth Spirit Legacy for several hundred years."

Time passed bit by bit.

Just as everyone was getting impatient, the Secret Hall gate opened with a boom.

Su Lie stumbled out, his face full of uncontrollable ecstasy and excitement.

"It's a Half-Step Earth Spirit Cultivation Technique! I obtained a Half-Step Earth Spirit Cultivation Technique!"

The whole place was silent for a moment, then erupted into a huge uproar.

Several Elders also showed joy; although it was not the true Earth Spirit Legacy, this was already the best result in a hundred years!

With this Cultivation Technique, combined with Su Lie's Aptitude, there was a great hope of breaking through to a high level of the Spirit King Realm in the future!

The Su Family is saved!

Surrounded and congratulated by everyone, Su Lie looked at Su Yun with satisfaction and pride.

His gaze was full of provocation and arrogance.

It was as if he was saying, "Do you see? This is the true heir of the Su Family! You, a concubine's son, what do you have to compete with me?"

Su Yun stood in place, watching his smug appearance, with no expression on his face.

Only in those pitch-black eyes did a trace of imperceptible pity flash by.