The sun was setting in the west. In a rather secluded courtyard of the Qin family—one of the three great clans in Tianyuan City—a pale-faced youth of about fifteen, dressed in white robes, with delicate and somewhat youthful features, was vigorously practicing his martial arts. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans streamed down his forehead.
His name was Qin Tian, the adopted son of Qin Wu, the head of the Qin family.
Five years ago, he was the most dazzling prodigy in the entire Shenfeng Kingdom: at eight years old, he broke through the ninth level of Body Refining; at ten, he had advanced to the fifth level of Innate Realm, earning the title of the number one genius in Shenfeng Kingdom.
He was the center of all attention...
Five years ago, Qin Tian had received a special invitation from Shenfeng Academy. Upon turning fifteen, he could directly enter the inner courtyard for training!
Therefore, he was also granted a disciple's token to enter the inner court.
Shenfeng Academy was the sacred place for cultivation in the whole Shenfeng Kingdom. It was the royal academy of the kingdom, cultivating all kinds of geniuses for the nation.
For disciples from ordinary families, simply joining Shenfeng Academy was like ascending to the heavens in one step. It would elevate their entire family's status.
The resources enjoyed by Shenfeng Academy disciples were countless times that of ordinary people. If they performed well, some elders might even take them as personal disciples, which would be a glorious achievement bringing honor to their ancestors.
It was a sect that countless young disciples struggled desperately to join. And this was just for becoming an ordinary outer court disciple of Shenfeng Academy!But Qin Tian's talent back then was enough to enter the inner court directly, without examination, receiving the disciple token ahead of time. This honor was something many envied but could never attain.
In the eyes of most people, Qin Tian's future achievements were limitless. The Qin family would also benefit greatly because of him, their status would rise far beyond before, and becoming the number one family among the three great clans in Tianyuan City was a foregone conclusion.
Everyone thought so!
Therefore, many families, large and small, tried to curry favor with the Qin family, hoping that when Qin Tian rose, their own family status would also improve.
Even the Lin family, one of the three great clans of Tianyuan City, had arranged a marriage contract with Qin Tian. The Lin family was the strongest among the three clans.
Thus, the head of the Lin family personally came to propose marriage, betrothing the Lin family's daughter Lin Fei'er to Qin Tian.
Lin Fei'er was gifted from a young age, clever and bright.
Everything was originally progressing in a good direction, but a few months later, heaven played a cruel joke on Qin Tian!
Ever since Qin Tian had just broken through to the fifth level of the Innate Realm and returned from his training in the Wild Forest, his body had developed problems.
For five years, his cultivation had not advanced one bit. Instead, he fell from the fifth level of the Innate Realm back to the third level of Body Refining. If nothing changed, he would drop to the first level of Body Refining and eventually become an ordinary person!Therefore, in these five years, Qin Tian had endured endless ridicule and humiliation. Even the disciples of the Qin family who once flattered him now sneered at him in all sorts of ways.
The fickleness of human nature and the harshness of the world were displayed vividly on him. The more brilliant he once was, the more miserable he now appeared.
Although countless people looked down on him, Qin Tian always believed he could cultivate back up again. So he practiced without ceasing every day.
However, every time Qin Tian managed to produce a bit of vital energy in his cultivation, it would eventually dissipate. He couldn't figure out the reason.
His foster father, Qin Wu, had brought many doctors to examine him, but all were unsuccessful.
The final conclusion was that Qin Tian was born a worthless body, unsuited for martial cultivation.
Though everyone was distancing themselves and mocking him, and though he was no longer cared for as before, his foster family had never treated him as an outsider.
Qin Wu had two biological children: a son named Qin Tianyang and a daughter named Qin Yueshuang, who were like an older brother and second sister to Qin Tian, and they were always very kind to him.Qin Tianyang's talent was excellent; more than two years ago, he joined the outer court of Shenfeng Academy.
Second sister Qin Yueshuang also had very good talent and had been in Shenfeng Academy for almost two years.
In the small courtyard, Qin Tian was fully focused on his cultivation when a group of unwelcome guests arrived!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The courtyard gate was violently kicked open.
Six people walked in. Leading was a boy about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in white with black hair, yellowish skin, and a slightly thin appearance. He held a folding fan and carried an arrogant air.
Five guards followed behind him. This was Qin Hao, the second son of the Great Elder.
Whenever Qin Tianyang and Qin Yueshuang were not home, Qin Hao would come to cause trouble. Sometimes he would humiliate Qin Tian and leave; sometimes he would even have his guards beat Qin Tian up!
Because Qin Tian was the family head's adopted son, Qin Hao dared not openly do him serious harm.
But Qin Wu had gone into seclusion a month ago, and all family affairs were handled by the Great Elder Qin Song, so Qin Hao became brazenly arrogant.
"Qin Hao, what are you doing here?" Qin Tian's face darkened and he ended his cultivation immediately.
"Heh, you worthless waste are still cultivating?" Qin Hao swaggered to Qin Tian's side, full of contempt. "Come on, former genius! Hurry up and kneel, then lick my shoes clean. If I'm in a good mood, you'll be spared the beating, won't you?"
Qin Tian showed extreme indifference when he heard this. He glanced at Qin Hao with a steady face and said, "If you have the ability, kill me now. But there's no way I'll kneel."
Qin Hao's expression turned cold. "Waste! You dare speak to me like that? Looks like you need a lesson. What are you waiting for? Grab him!"
At Qin Hao's command, the guards immediately restrained Qin Tian.
Qin Tian struggled fiercely, but the guards were at the fifth or sixth level of Body Refining, while he was only at the third level now, so his resistance was futile.
He could only endure the humiliation silently, vowing in his heart to repay them tenfold or more one day.
Seeing Qin Tian subdued, Qin Hao stepped forward and searched him. Soon he took off a small black tower about the size of a finger from Qin Tian's neck.
"You bastard, that's my thing!" Qin Tian was utterly furious when he saw it in Qin Hao's hand.
He had heard from his foster father Qin Wu that this little tower had been worn as a pendant since he was a child.
Qin Tian was fatherless and motherless from birth and was adopted by Qin Wu before he was one year old.
This little tower was likely the only token proving his identity.
Seeing Qin Hao trying to take the tower, Qin Tian's anger erupted. He accidentally broke free from several guards' hold.
Taking advantage of Qin Hao's momentary distraction, Qin Tian snatched back the tower and fled towards the back mountain.
Qin Hao was furious at the scene and chased after him with several guards.
Soon, Qin Tian reached the cliff edge behind the Qin family's courtyard.
At the same time, Qin Hao and his men caught up, their faces full of sinister smiles.
Qin Tian gripped the small tower tightly. It probably had something to do with his identity, and he would never give it to Qin Hao.Looking at Qin Hao and his men, then at the towering cliff behind him, Qin Tian's face was full of despair.
"Waste, keep running then," Qin Hao sneered, confident he had Qin Tian trapped.
Trampling on the once-great genius beneath his feet gave him unprecedented satisfaction.
"Grab him…"
With a cruel grin, Qin Hao ordered.
But as the guards slowly approached Qin Tian, he instinctively stepped back — and accidentally missed his footing.
Qin Tian felt his body uncontrollably tilt backward and then fell off the cliff.
"Am I… really going to die just like this? I haven't even met my real family, nor do I even know who I truly am."
At that moment, Qin Tian was filled with regret.
He swore that if he survived this ordeal, he would make Qin Hao pay tenfold or a hundredfold.
Falling rapidly through the air, Qin Tian's eyes struggled to stay open before he soon lost consciousness.