The Ancestral Shrine of the Qin Clan—
Within its hallowed halls stood countless spirit tablets, row upon solemn row, paying homage to the tens of thousands of heroic souls who had once shed their blood for the glory of the Qin.
Upon a meditation cushion sat an elderly man with snow-white hair—the First Ancestor of the Qin Clan. Behind him stood nine venerable elders, and beside them, Qin Feng's nominal father, Qin Tian.
"Honored Ancestor, that is the full account," Qin Tian said with the utmost reverence, kneeling low as he recounted the events.
Without turning his head, the First Ancestor replied calmly, "If this war is unavoidable, then let it be fought."
"Yes, sir!"A resolute vow echoed through the hall as each elder pledged to fight to the bitter end.
Just then—A child's voice broke the grave atmosphere. "Forefather, this must not be…"
"Feng'er, leave at once!"Qin Tian, upon seeing his son sprint into the shrine on his stubby legs, quickly rebuked him. To speak out in the ancestral hall—let alone question the First Ancestor—was beyond insolent.
"Silence."The First Ancestor did not censure the boy. Instead, he turned with a rare smile and waved Qin Feng forward.
"Yes…"Qin Tian could not hide his dismay.They were both descendants of the Ancestor, so why was the disparity so vast?Was it truly just because he lacked the bearing of an Emperor?
"Feng'er, what did you mean when you said it must not be?"The First Ancestor looked at the child with evident affection. Qin Feng had always been attentive, often visiting with delicacies. Not like the other unfilial brats who only sought him out for sparring.
With a solemn face, Qin Feng said, "Only a fool seeks victory through war. Win, and the clan is left weakened. Lose, and we are doomed."
"A fool, you say?"All the elders turned simultaneously to look at Qin Tian, their expressions seeming to say: We're not taking the blame—you're the family head.
"I…"Qin Tian's eye twitched as a silent curse echoed in his mind.
"You mean to say," asked the Ancestor with interest, "you have a method to win without resorting to war?"
"This entire conflict began because of my brother and me," Qin Feng explained with childlike confidence. "Our emergence upset the balance and incited fear in the royal bloodline. If we were to vanish, the excuse for war would vanish with us."
That's it?Naïve—such was the thinking of a child.Even if the two were hidden, the imperial court would never rest until they were dead… or crippled.
"Exactly. Crippled," Qin Feng affirmed, his expression grave as he produced a timeworn tome.
It was a rare volume he had exchanged from the system—one that described extraordinary constitutions, including the fabled Supreme Bone and the method by which its power might truly be awakened.
"To sever the bone—to break it, and rise anew."
A collective gasp rang out.To other families, a Supreme Bone would be worshiped as a divine gift. Who would dare extract it from a child, hoping to forge supremacy from suffering?
After a long silence, the First Ancestor finally spoke."This method… is viable."
"What?!"Shock rippled through the hall.
"I object!"Qin Tian cried out. "My son is only five. He's just a child. This is not a burden he should bear."
"To ascend to supremacy," the Ancestor intoned slowly, "a bone alone is insufficient. It takes will, and the grandeur of spirit. Some things are fated by the heavens."
Fated by the heavens?The elders exchanged wary glances. Had the First Ancestor divined some deeper truth?
"But…"Qin Tian faltered. Logic he could accept, but not when it demanded such a price from his child.
The Ancestor turned to Qin Feng again. "If your brother hides his light through pain, how shall you conceal your own Emperor's destiny?"
With righteous resolve, Qin Feng declared, "Let it be known—the Qin Clan's eldest son, driven by jealousy, seized his brother's Supreme Bone for himself. Discovered by his clan, he was cast out and condemned. The Qin Clan branded him a traitor and issued a death order across the realm."
The hall fell into stunned silence.He was only eight. And yet, he was ruthless not only to others—but also to himself.
If Qin Hao were to suffer physically, then Qin Feng would endure both body and soul.Branded a traitor. Banished. Hunted endlessly. Only when Qin Hao rose would the truth be cleared. If—he survived.
But to Qin Feng, this posed no concern. He had full confidence in his overpowered arsenal.
"No! Absolutely not!"Qin Tian shouted again.How could any father accept such a plan—his elder son exiled and hunted, the younger mutilated and left to crawl his way up from agony?
"To bear the sins of a thousand lifetimes—for the clan's future—I am willing," Qin Feng said, his voice firm, his chest lifted with pride, nearly moved by his own resolve.
The elders, some thousands of years old, were nearly undone.Eight years old… he was still just a child.And yet, to carry such burdens willingly—this was no ordinary descendant.
"Ding! For playing such a noble-hearted scoundrel, the host is awarded a Portable Storage Realm."
Qin Feng immediately sensed the vast space—an expanse spanning over a thousand square meters. Perfect for travel, mischief, or mass murder.
The Ancestor's voice trembled, even as he struggled to remain composed."Child, I know you mean well. But do you truly understand the path ahead? There will be no turning back."
"I do not regret it. The finest sword must know the harshest grindstone. The plum blossom's fragrance is born from bitter frost. No storm, no rainbow."
Qin Feng's eyes shone with clarity, his expression resolute.Though in his heart he was screaming—Five years! Do you even know how I've suffered these five years!? Stop talking and let me dig out that bone! I need to finish the mission! I want my almighty dual-pupils! I don't want to be a good boy stuck at home—I want to leave the noob village and find pretty girls and future wives!
"…Very well."The Ancestor squeezed out the single word as though it drained the last of his strength.He knew—this was the only way. If all went wrong, only Qin Feng would be lost. But if he endured… the Qin Clan might yet rise to unimaginable heights.
"Please, Ancestor, I beg you…"Qin Tian fell to his knees, knocking his head to the floor, his voice trembling with anguish.To let his own son be cast out and pursued, while he had to feign indifference? No father should bear such cruelty.
"Do not fear, Father," Qin Feng said softly, lifting the man to his feet, and for the first time in eight years, he called him with heartfelt sincerity—"Father."
A promise lay behind that word.I will survive. I will return.And when I do—I'll be the one to unplug your oxygen tube with my own hands.