In the grand hall of the Dawn family estate in Cloudspire City, an air of tension filled the room. An elderly man with a white beard and stern features stood before a young man in the center. His voice rang out, cold and final.
"Sirius, your dantian is shattered, your bloodline drained, and you are reduced to a mere cripple. Do you accept the removal of your position as the Young Master?"
The hall was deathly silent, save for the weight of the words that had just been spoken. Sirius, once the pride of the family, stood there with his jade crown perched upon his head, his handsome face now pale and haggard.
His eyes, once bright as stars, now reflected helplessness, and the bitter smile at the corner of his lips showed how far he had fallen.
Around the hall stood more than a dozen elders of the Dawn family, watching silently, unwilling to intercede. The young master of the family held a position just below the Grand Elder and the family head, a role reserved for the strongest of the younger generation.
Sirius had once held this title with pride. He possessed a bloodline of unparalleled rank, a power never before seen within the Dawn family. His name echoed throughout Cloudspire City as a peerless genius. But all of that had changed in the blink of an eye.
Just days ago, Sirius had fought to protect the family’s mines from the Damon clan, a rival family with no shortage of experts. He had stood his ground, though still only in the Qi Condensation stage. It had not been enough. His dantian was destroyed, his bloodline obliterated, and now, his cultivation was lost. The once-promising future before him had turned into a bitter wasteland.
Sirius remained silent, his heart filled with sorrow. The loss of his position as the heir meant the last shred of his future would be stripped away. The Dawn family, a mighty clan, had no room for weakness. Resources were precious, and they would not be spent on someone without cultivation. His only slim hope lay in retaining his title, but that hope was slipping away fast.
Suddenly, a clear and angry voice cut through the silence.
"Grand Elder! I disagree with your decision! You cannot simply strip Sirius of his heir status like this!"
A young woman stepped forward, her face flushed with anger. Sirius's eyes widened in surprise.
"Aunt Victoria?"
The Grand Elder’s gaze darkened.
"How dare you?" His voice was cold and sharp. "Victoria, what right do you, a mere junior, have to interfere in the family’s affairs? This decision was made after consultation with the elders. Are you defying the family?"
Sirius, though touched by her defense, shook his head.
"Aunt, it’s not worth it. You don’t have to do this for me."
Victoria ignored his words. Her voice remained firm, her gaze locked on the Grand Elder.
"Why don’t you consider why Sirius became what he is today? He was fighting to protect our family! If not for defending the family’s mines, he wouldn’t have faced the top powerhouses of the Damon family!"
Her tone grew sharper.
"Now, after all he sacrificed, you want to take away his position as the Young Master? Is this how the Dawn family rewards loyalty and courage?"
Murmurs filled the hall. Even among the elders, doubt began to spread.
"She has a point... Sirius did show great bravery."
"Will anyone work hard for the family if this is how we treat them?"
Though the whispers were faint, the Grand Elder’s ears caught every word. His expression darkened further, a flicker of something far more dangerous than anger flashing behind his eyes. Yet he composed himself, suppressing his fury.
"Victoria," he began slowly, "I understand your concern. Sirius did show courage in the face of danger. But the reality is, his dantian is destroyed, his bloodline—an extremely rare fifth-grade lineage—has been lost. How can we continue to invest precious resources in someone with no hope of recovery? What will the younger generation think if we allow him to remain as the Young Master?"
The hall grew quiet again, the weight of his words settling heavily on those present.
Victoria was about to argue further when Sirius suddenly grasped her hand. His grip was firm, yet his expression carried a sorrowful resolve.
"Aunt, please… it’s over. Don’t fight this anymore."
Victoria's face twisted with pain.
"I can’t just leave you like this, Sirius."
Hearing her words only deepened his anguish. Sixteen years ago, his father had left their family, leaving only Sirius and his younger sister behind. Sirius had poured all his energy into cultivation, hoping that one day he would be strong enough to find his father and demand answers. But now, that dream seemed further away than ever.
Sirius clenched his jaw, his gaze hardening. There was no point in fighting anymore. He could only submit to fate.
"Elder," he said, his voice steady despite the pain he felt, "let the family decide. I have no objections."
Victoria looked at him, heartbroken, but it was too late.
"Good," the Grand Elder responded, a faint smile curling his lips.
"You are an understanding child. Though you will no longer be the Young Master, in recognition of your service, someone will be sent to care for you."
"Thank you, Grand Elder." Sirius bowed, concealing the turmoil within. Without another word, he turned and left the hall.
As his figure faded into the distance, a wave of sorrow swept through the gathered elders. The genius of the Dawn family, once hailed as a prodigy, was now just a shadow of his former self.
Sirius made his way to a small courtyard on the southernmost side of the estate. Once, he had lived in the luxurious Young Master’s residence, but since his injury, he and his sister had been relocated here, far from the heart of the family.
"Is there really no way out of this?" he muttered to himself as he walked through the courtyard, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a terrified scream tore through the air.
"Ah! Stay away from me! If you come any closer, I'll tell my brother!"
Sirius's heart stopped. That voice—his sister, Lilian.
"Lily!" He roared, rushing toward her room with all the strength he had left. With a mighty push, he broke through the door, and the sight before him sent his blood boiling.
Lucian, the Grand Elder’s grandson, was on top of Lilian, tearing at her clothes like a wild beast.
"How dare you touch my sister!" Sirius's voice was hoarse with rage. His eyes filled with murderous intent, his entire body trembling with fury. Even without his cultivation, his blood surged as though ready to burst out of his veins.
