Sa Min walked out of the kitchen, holding a steaming bowl of beef noodle soup and chopsticks. It'd been hours and the Elder still nowhere to be seen.

The aroma engulfed his nose, and Sa Min could barely calm his stomach—noodles, slices of succulent beef, vibrant green scallions, and fragrant cilantro—all bathed in a rich, golden broth. Sa Min took a deep breath, enjoying the view before he took a bite.

"Good, good." Sa Min muttered under his breath as he emerged from the house, propping himself against the doorframe, allowing the rain propelled by the wind to hit him.

The food in the Eastern Place was something else entirely compared to that garbage of those civilized people.

Sa Huiqing and his wife already know that I'm aware of their intentions. They must be thinking that my stubbornness will fade away once I open my sea core and start cultivating. And if that doesn't work, hehe, I bet they'll try to do something else, something stupid to make me unlock the Ka.

With more than 600 years' worth of experience, Sa Min could see clearly through Sa Huiqing's mind. Wielders would do everything to gain resources for their cultivation. And these people were no different.

Those fuckers think without question that I have a great sea core, but I know better. Just because the parents of this body are immortals, that doesn't guarantee a superior aptitude…

I may have it, I may not. Everything is possible. Sa Min looked up at the sky, a soft veil of clouds adorned the sky. A smirk appeared on his cold face. But isn't this what makes life so damn interesting?

At that moment, Sa Min heard a thundering sound. In the distance, he spotted four black horse-like-beasts thundering toward the house, their terrifying speed piercing through the dense forest.

When they drew close enough, Sa Min managed to see the solemn faces of riders. They wore a green robe with sa clan symbols—the wolf.

Sa Clan' reapers— what are they doing here?

The horse-like beasts, at their speed, suddenly began to change shape, turning into a mist. The gray mist swiftly gathered together and took the form of a small, gray object before entering their Sa Core.

It all happened before the wielders' feet hit the ground.

The wielders kept sprinting until they reached in front of Sa Min.

"Are you Sa Min, the heaven's miracle?" One of them asked. "Is your father in the house?"

Heaven's miracle? Sa Min thought calmly, taking another bite. Isn't the little devil what they call me?

Before Sa Min could utter a word, approaching steps resonated from within the house. He stepped aside from the door, allowing Sa Huiqing, Lin Qiao and Sa Juan to pass.

"I, Sa Huiqing, am his father," declared Sa Huiqing as he stepped forward. "You must be the reapers appointed for this year. What brought you here? Did something wrong happen in the clan?"

The three wielders bowed to Sa Huiqing, their fists pressed together in greeting. He was the head of the Drinks Barn after all.

The one who seemed to be the leader took a step forward; sorrow filled his face. "This is a terrible day for our clan indeed, Elder Huiqing," he murmured with a depressing tone. "You are already aware of the tragedy of the three Elders who died months ago fighting the Hungry-Tigers mercenary band. It was a heavy blow to our clan indeed. But yesterday.."

Elder Huiqing? Sa Min thought, still busy with his meal. Is this going where I think it is?

"...Yesterday, the young master, the future Patriarch, returned injured from the Academy. His Essence Center was destroyed," He said with a heavy sigh. "He can't cultivate anymore."

"What did you just say? The young master, injured?" Sa Huiqing's eyes widened a bit with a slight flutter, his hands closed into tight fists. "Sa Qiao is injured?" He was genuinely in shock.

Sa Qiao was the only one in Tetra Blessing City that ever had a grand sea core in hundreds of years. His aptitude was A-grade! In merely four years, he'd managed to reach rank 8. And a year ago, he'd managed to enter the Prestige Cultivation Academy of Shaanxi Province.

The young man was the hope on which the Sa Clan was relying on, to extend its dominion within the city and restore the clan to its origin status.

And now that hope seemed to be gone!

Watching the shock on Sa Huiqing' face, Sa Min couldn't help but wonder whether his shock came from the clan's bad situation or the opportunity it would give him.

Definitely the last.

"Unfortunately, it's the truth. The whole clan is in shock. Not only do we have a shortage of Elders but we also lack someone suitable to be the next patriarch," the reaper who seemed to be in his forties said bitterly. "We're truly in an unfortunate situation compared to the other three clans."

Sa Huiqing took a deep breath. "That's indeed an unfortunate situation. So why are you here?" he asked, though he already knew why.

"It is not hidden from anyone from the clan or from the city… how genius your son is," said the reaper. His eyes glanced at Sa Min. "The boy showed all the signs of being talented, and many suspect he possesses S-grade aptitude...including the patriarch himself."

Sa Min could see Sa Huiqing's face twitching, as if he were trying to hold back a smile—a genuine smile this time.

"The Clan Council held an emergency meeting this morning," continued the Reaper, an object emerging from his force gate. "It ended with the patriarch's decision to pardon your family and grant you the title of Elder." He carefully handed the object, the Elder Seal, to Sa Huiqing. "Please accept it."

"From this moment onward, you are an Elder of the Sa Clan, and you are welcome to return to your house within the city."

Sa Min gently stirred the bowl, drinking the remaining broth.

---

Distant thumps of the dawn drum resonated across the sa clan's territory with the chanting of crickets, announcing the start of a new day.

It's the opening ceremony day in the three major clans of the city, where wielders were supposed to open their sea core and awaken their ka.

Of course, it's just a tradition that the three clans picked up when they'd established the city. There's no law that dictated when people should open their sea cores. Outside the three clans, wielders could open their sea cores whenever they wanted—as long as their force gate completely formed.

Tan Chen, for example, had already opened her sea core. Her aptitude was B-grade.

Beneath a tree, in the courtyard of their new house, Sa Min sat serenely on a stone chair, eyes closed, thinking and enjoying the gentle morning breeze. The warm scent of tea wafted from the clay cup he cradled, rushing into his nostrils.

The other night, Sa Huiqing, having transferred his responsibility as the head of the drinks barn to a rank 9 Ka wielder, wasted no time in returning to their ancestral house within the sa clan's territory.

They were overwhelmed with joy. Sa Min understood why.

Although they'd been nominally members of Sa Clan, there were many privileges and resources they could not access before. Now, however, with the patriarch's forgiveness, they could fully rejoin the clan and use all that their blood afforded them.

The pardon indeed lifted what must have been an immense burden for them.

Throughout the night, Sa Min found himself unable to sleep. It wasn't out of excitement, of course, like Sa Juan, who couldn't remain still for a second, pacing back and forth on the cobblestoned courtyard, extremely nervous.

He just wanted to enjoy these moments of peace that he might never have again.

With many cups of tea he'd had his slave, Hou Qing bring, Sa Min spent most of the night facing the Celestial Heaven, wondering, What was going on up there? What were his enemies doing? What were his frie — Sa Min had no friends…!

He's sure there would have been no one who had mourned his death, not even his children. Sa Min knew that very well, but he felt nothing—no sadness, no anger, love, or hate, and definitely no guilt.

I wonder how the world has really changed in the last sixteen years. Sa Min mused to himself as he took a sip. From what I read in journals, things are certainly getting more exciting… The clash between the Resistance Army and the Heavenly Union is growing. The world's order is changing and…

Thinking on this, Sa Min's heavy, stony heart could not help but stir a bit with excitement. Yet this flicker of emotion stayed hidden behind his calm, indifferent face. Sa Min understood well that his excitement would not fasten his cultivation; only aptitude would.

"Brother, brother! Wake up." Suddenly, a cry came to him, thrilled and familiar. "It's time for the ceremony. Come on, let's go."

Sa Min slowly opened his eyes, casting his gaze over the moon gate. Two young women stood there—the nervous Sa Juan, anxiously wringing her pale hands, her pleading eyes urging him to hurry up. She wore her veil as always.

Most women of the Xi Empire wore veils that covered the lower half of their faces. The law that required them to wear it had long been abolished. But many women still wore it willingly, considering it their shield against creepy eyes.

Behind her stood her slave, a woman who looked like all non-wielder females: beautiful, and submissive, and depressed. She wore a pale yellow robe, which was the common clothing for non-wielders on the Eastern Plane, men or women.

His eyes then shifted to his cup, still half full.

"Not yet," Sa Min said nonchalantly, raising the cup to his lips and taking a slow sip. Though the tea had cooled down a bit, the sight of his sister's fretful expression brought a hint of amusement.

"What? When? It's already time!" cried Sa Juan, her silk robes fluttering anxiously. "People are already heading—"

"When I finish my cup," Sa Min interrupted with a calm tone.

"Please, please, brother." Her voice trembled, sounding as though she were about to cry. "I want to get a good position on the list."

Sa Min regarded her again, this time giving her that intimidating, piercing look that always made her count her toes. "Am I speaking to a donkey with big lips and a hairy, ugly pimple? Or maybe you're deaf? I've already told you, but it seems you're not listening."

"I'm…"

She mumbled something, her face distorted with anger and injustice and frustration and unwillingness.

"If you think going first will somehow give you a better sea core," Sa Min paused, taking another sip. "Then go ahead, no one is stopping you."

"My fath-father… He told me to follow behind you."

Sa Min shrugged and she abruptly turned and stormed away, with each step pounding the ground. Her slave obediently followed.

Curious what she would do if her aptitude turned out to be better than mine, Sa Min rumbled to himself, a wry grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. He already knew. She'd be trouble. That, for sure.

Slowly, Sa Min savored the last sips of his tea. When it's gone, he rose and stretched the laziness away from him. "Hou Qing," he called, "bring water." Nearby and waiting, Hou Qing hurried to him.

In the eastern plane, everyone had a non-wielder slave that followed them wherever they went — They're very cheap to buy. Sa Min however never let his slave follow him around or stay close to him. They're too dangerous. Even for high ranking wielders.

Sa Min washed himself as usual, then headed outside. Sa Juan, who was hiding nearby, silently followed behind him through the moon gate, her face down and clenched fists.

Sa Min gave her no mind, as he noticed a bunch of wielders sitting in the forecourt.

Noticing his presence, they hastily stood up, waiting for him to approach.

They were the clan's guards.

"Greetings," said one of them. "You must be Sa Min, right?"

Sa Min frowned, but he had an idea why they were here. "That me, something wrong?"

"No, not at all," replied the ka wieder with a respectful tone. One must show respect for those of high status, after all. Especially for one with such A-grade, maybe even S-grade aptitude as the young man before him who would surely lead them all one day, or that's what they assumed.

"Before your father went to the main courtyard, he .. no, the clan has ordered us to escort you there," he explained.

"Why is that?" asked Sa Min knowingly.

"You're an outer disciple of the Basic Cultivation Academy. So you already know about the incidents happening in the city. About the disappearances of people with colored eyes. And you…" The wielder paused, carefully considering his words. "You have colored eyes."

Black hair, almond-shaped dark brown eyes, and white skin— that was how humans on the Eastern Plane generally looked. It's very rare to see someone with blonde hair, blue eyes, or brown skin.

Some people— and they are few — hated seeing people with blue eyes walking around them due to the past they had with Westerners from way back when the Heavenly Union had come and colonized their land hundreds of years ago.

The wielder obviously was afraid of offending Sa Min, for Sa Min had light blue eyes, and different looking in overall.

But when Sa Min's expression didn't change, the wielder let out a sigh of relief. He really didn't want to offend the next patriarch.

Sa Min raised an eyebrow. "So the clan fears I may be next because of my blue eyes."

Sa Min hadn't lived the last sixteen years sleeping, of course. Though he hadn't been active like other outer disciples, he'd gathered information about where he was, the rules, the traditions, the people, and all that stuff that he needed to survive as a weak ka wieders.

But in the last months, as news of the colored eyes people disappearances spread, Sa Min had raised his guard, avoiding any dangerous places, since he has colored-eyes himself.

"Well, yes, that's one reason," replied the ka wieder. "Also, in case the other clans tried something stupid. Who knows, you might have S-grade aptitude."

"Please, the ceremony is…" In the background, Sa Juan tried to point out the time, but no one seemed to notice.

Sa Min smiled at the respectable man. "Don't praise me too much. I haven't even opened my sea core yet."

"No, no, you definitely have it," another wielder piped up, his eyes filled with admiration. "No one doubts that, and you shouldn't either."

"No doubts?" Sa Min took a deep breath. "I hope so."

I really hope so. Not only would that make my cultivation much easier, but it would also give me time to figure out the ba's lifespan problem.

But… If Heaven tried to play its usual games and it turns out I only have a shitty sea core, I would be … fine. I had a shitty sea core before and I managed to ascend. There are ways…demonic ways. Besinds, Sa Min nonchalantly scratched his nose to cover the creepy smile on his face. Seeing these stupid people's eyes realizing how stupid they were would be enough to make my day.

Sa Min liked that feeling. He liked watching people realizing how stupid they were. He liked watching their desperate eyes, their angry eyes, their sad eyes, their fearful eyes. It's one of things he really enjoyed. In that time, when he'd been strong enough to get away with it, he would corner people with two devastating choices and watch in joy.

But this was long ago. When he'd had no purpose and been a slave to his desires and emotions. Now he knew better. Now he had a goal. Now he's the one controlling his desires, not the other way around.

"All right, it's time; let's hit the road," said Sa Min, seeing the sun's light had already touched everything.

They stepped out of the house. The guards leading the way towards the heart of Sa Clan's territory.