Han Yi opened his eyes to the sound of birds softly chirping by his window.
As he slowly pushed himself up off his bed, he realized that his clothes had changed from his everyday suit and tie to a soft blue robe the color of the sky.
Gently rubbing the robe between his two fingers, Han Yi could immediately tell it was a high quality garment from touch alone, not to mention the slightly ethereal feeling to the fabric that Han Yi could subtly sense.
Han Yi momentarily blanked out and held himself to a moment of introspection as he reviewed his two sets of memories.
His first set, an untalented salaryman chasing after giants in the economic world only to die from exhaustion.
His second set, the second young master of a cultivation clan with ambitions of being better than his elder brother only to be destroyed by the knowledge that his cultivation talent was terrible.
Knowing that he possessed a spirit root of five elements meant that he would have to put in twice the effort to match the results of an average cultivator. Comparing to a genius like his older brother would show an even crueler result.
Han Yi let out a self-deprecating chuckle as he muttered to himself quietly.
"Living like this is truly exhausting. Isn't it, Han Yi?"
Han Yi gazed out of his window and watched quietly as a small sparrow hopped around on a nearby tree before taking off into the air.
"Let's slow down a bit and enjoy life," declared Han Yi to the world as a glimmer of tranquillity appeared in his eyes.
Han Yi adjusted his robes to look presentable before heading out of his room. If his memories were correct, his parents and siblings should be currently enjoying breakfast by now.
This piece of memory was soon proven true as Han Yi opened the door to the dining hall and saw his entire family waiting for him to arrive.
Han Yi gave the people in the room a glance and started to connect faces to the ones in his memories.
His father, a handsome man filled with vitality looking neither young nor old. His mother, possessing beauty that could topple sects and ruin families, maintained a youthful appearance even after giving birth to three children. His elder brother, a strong sturdy man with the disposition of a handsome immortal. And lastly his quiet and shy little sister, a budding beauty who would eventually surpass his mother in beauty.
Immediately, his mother noticed his presence and brightened up.
"Yi'er! You finally came out of your room! Come sit down next to me and eat! You are starting to look like a skeleton!"
Han Yi felt warm at the sight of his mother fussing over him and gave a small nod before sitting down next to his mother while observing his father.
"Good morning father. I'm sorry for showing you a disappointing view of myself during the past few days."
His father calmly smiled. "It is alright. Let's put those matters aside and enjoy breakfast instead."
Immediately servants started to pour in and placed down meals before disappearing like an illusion.
The whole family waited for his father to take the first bite before joining in as well.
Han Yi gazed down at the dishes in front of him and couldn't help but be slightly amazed. Fragrant dishes of all types adorned the dining table like alluring gems, each revealing a slightly different form of temptation.
Fried rice in the corner was made of high-grade spiritual rice with shrimp and scallions, Buddha's Delight was placed near his mother, and pork and chicken dishes were placed in the middle for everyone to access easily. Everything was cooked to perfection, incomparable in quality and taste to their modern counterparts.
After everyone had finished eating, Han Yi put down his chopsticks and decided to finally reveal his intentions to his family.
"Father, I have something to say."
"Go ahead. We are all family here," His father said.
"I think it is clear that I am not talented in cultivation."
The whole room froze as everyone stared at Han Yi with shocked looks except for his father as no one expected Han Yi to bring up his own sore point.
"Han Yi! Don't worry about your talent! The clan can still push you into foundation establishment! Do not underestimate the power of money!" Shouted his mother as she stood up distressed.
"That is not it mother," said Han Yi while shaking his head. "I would like to propose that instead of spending resources on me, we should divert them to my elder brother instead."
"To me?" Exclaimed his brother with a look of surprise. "Why?"
Even his father watched Han Yi with a deep look as if waiting to hear Han Yi's answer.
Seeing this Han Yi let out a small smile. "A tree strong enough to resist harsh winds and provide gentle shade will only grow if the weeds around it are carefully pruned. If elder brother can reach core formation before the age of thirty, perhaps a new era for our clan will emerge."
"The benefits I would receive from taking your resources would be minimal at best," said his elder brother while waving Han Yi's explanation away. "Keep them and cultivate yourself to become a pillar for the clan to rely on."
"Even a single grain of sand can become a mountain if accumulated day by day," countered Han Yi. "Do not devalue even the smallest of improvements elder brother."
Han Yi's elder brother frowned. "Providing a sapling with excessive care and water may end up drowning it. It would be better to plant many saplings and tend to them equally."
Han Yi let out a small chuckle. "That would be true for a fragile sapling but you are a sturdy tree. A bit of extra rain would never drown you."
Han Yi's elder brother scoffed as he dropped the formalities and was direct."It is a waste of resources. Take your share. I don't want it."
"And giving it to me isn't?"
"That's not the point!"
Han Yi smiled as he picked up his tea cup and enjoyed a deep sip. After reveling in the exquisite flavor, he calmly stated "If elder brother won't take it then I'll simply give it to little Yuyu. Her talent will surely be better than mine."
"You just don't listen-" said his elder brother angrily when Han Yi cut him off.
"Of course, I have a favor to ask in exchange for giving up my own resources."
Han Yi's father signaled for Han Yi's elder brother to calm down before letting out a small smirk. "Is that so? What would this favor be?"
"I wish to find a sect to cultivate peacefully in. For the rest of my life away from trouble and senseless politics. Help me join a sect with my subpar qualifications and I'll give up on the resources meant for me."
Silence settled in the room as his father finally turned his gaze away from Han Yi and to his elder brother. "Yuan'er. Do you accept these conditions?"
Han Yi's elder brother stared at Han Yi with a complicated look before nodding in defeat. "I will make sure my brother joins a worthy sect and prospers for a long time. Using his resources I will become a sturdy tree the family can rely on for centuries."
Han Yi finally let out a sigh of relief as a true smile appeared on his face. "I will rely on you in the future, brother. Don't let me be bullied too badly."
His older brother responded with a determined look, fire blazing in his eyes.
"You won't. I promise."