The sunset's glow was still resplendent, yet there was nothing but bitterness in Emperor Qin's smile, his world filled with darkness.

Like a stray dog, he was sprawled on the dueling stage.

Silently enduring the punches and kicks from those around him.

Around him were the Qin clan's youngsters, who once grovelled at his feet, opening the Virtue Red Cloud—a unique feature of this world. It was a delicate little cloud, emitting a faint red light, with a light curtain in its midst.

They were recording Emperor Qin's dismal state.

"Emperor Qin, didn't expect you to see this day, did you?"

"Beg us, ask us not to record this with the Red Cloud! Plead with us!"

"The once proud number one of the Qin family, is now nothing but a wasted Dragon Soul kicked out of the clan! How does that feel huh?"

"If I were you, I'd find a corner, and slit my own throat!"

"Otherwise, we'll beat you up every time we see you, damn you!"

"Let's go! Today is truly a joyous day!"

Mocking comments were hurled at him.

Phew!

Even spit was directly landed on Emperor Qin's head.

Emperor Qin's fists clenched instantly, nails digging into his palm, blood flowing freely, but... all he could do was accept it helplessly.

This is the vast Honghuang Continent, the current world of divine cultivation.

As always, the strong are revered, and virtue is paramount.

For the weak, they don't even have the right to live.

One hundred thousand years ago, the ancient dragon clan, qilins, and the phoenix clan were in ceaseless battle in the Honghuang world, a calamity historically known as the Dragon Han Catastrophe.

It was at that time that the human race arose. In order to survive, they had to intermarry and multiply with the three ancient Honghuang clans. They were willing to be slaves, earning virtue points for the three ancient clans.

Generation after generation of human ancestors braved trials and tribulations, gradually establishing the ten major cities of the human race in the Honghuang world.

Daqin City is one of them.

The warriors in Daqin City carry the bloodline of the ancient dragon.

The Qin family, as the top-ranking family in Daqin City, absolutely does not tolerate any waste in the family.

The measure of a Qin family warrior's potential is the strength of the ancient dragon bloodline within them. At sixteen, they can participate in the ancient dragon sacrificial ceremony to awaken their dragon soul.

Dragon souls are divided into nine grades, symbolized by the emitted aura: gray, white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, cyan, and purple each represent the nine grades of dragon souls.

The higher the grade of the awakened dragon soul, the greater the future potential and achievements. The grade of dragon soul you achieve determines your future level of cultivation and martial arts realm.

The divine cultivation of martial arts also has nine grades, from the first-grade Basic Martial Realm, Giant Spirit Realm, Noble Realm, Throne Realm, Imperial Dominance Realm, Emperor Extreme Realm, Saintly Realm, Ancient God Realm, to the ninth-grade Honghuang Realm.

Rumour has it that there exists more formidable martial arts realms above the ninth grade, but very few people know about it.

Qin Huang, he broke through to the first-grade Basic Martial Realm at the age of thirteen, becoming the top figure in the Qin family, and even the top figure amongst the three major families in Daqin City.

To my surprise, what came out was a dull, colorless, useless black dragon soul.

Three years ago, in the full glory of honor, I was gifted with the Precious Merit of Honghuang by my family.

Yet today, despised by all, I was expelled from my family on the spot, removed from the genealogical records. Even my late father is to be moved out of the Qin Family Dragon Tomb because of me.

What's even more appalling, in their quest for merit points, my own kinsmen had the audacity to record this humiliating scene using the Merit Red Cloud technique, spreading it across the entire Great Qin City.

It is obvious that I will become the laughingstock for everyone.

Should I be enraged?

Three years ago, in my prime, I also used the Merit Red Cloud to record my cultivation progress and martial arts training for the elders of my family to review, and this earned me the merit points as a reward.

Should I hate someone?

Who should I blame?

Should I resent the fickleness of fate and the injustice of the heavenly path?

Qin Huang, my head down, struggled to stand up in the pain and slowly walked towards the main hall of the Qin Family Ancestral Shrine.

"Qin Huang? You... why haven't you left yet? What a disgrace!"

Qin Wushi, the head of the Qin family and grandfather of Qin Huang, has hundreds of grandchildren. His indifference is common in such big families.

Plop!

Qin Huang slowly kneeled down, "Grandfather, no... Leader! I, Qin Huang, have never kneeled to anyone, nor have I asked anything from you."

"Now, all I'm asking is, please don't remove my father's ashes and token from the family's Dragon Tomb."

"He spent his whole life with his utmost desire being fighting for our family, and he died in battle for it as well. Being buried in the family's Dragon Tomb was his lifelong wish and honor! He is your son, I beg you!"

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

Emperor Qin started kowtowing.

"You..."

Looking at Emperor Qin, the expression on Qin Wushi's face was ferocious as he pointed at Emperor Qin’s nose angrily, "What son? I don’t have such a son who is nothing but a wastrel!"

"Do you know how many distinguished guests from the three great families I invited for this ancient dragon sacrifice? I invited everyone important!"

"But what about you! You've completely disgraced me!"

"Do you know how much merit you've consumed from the family in the past three years? A hundred merit points...A hundred! That’s the total income of the family for three years! The fact that I didn’t kill you on the spot is already a favor, so if you know what’s good for you, get lost and stay lost!"

"Huh?"

With an angry roar, like a dragon's roar, Qin Wushi stared fiercely at Emperor Qin.

"I beg you... I'll remember your great kindness my entire life..."

Bam!

"Damn you!"

"You little rascal, such an annoyance!"

Puh!

With a cold snort, Qin Wushi, a third-grade venerable with immense power, directly sent the Emperor Qin flying.

Turning around, he immediately closed the ancestral shrine!

Krak!

A storm of lightning rain began to pour down!

Emperor Qin struggled to get up, still dutifully bowing.

"Master, Emperor Qin's father, Qin Yang's ashes have been retrieved from the Dragon Tomb." A middle-aged man chuckled, walked over and said at the entrance of the ancestral shrine.

Emperor Qin's uncle, Qin Beiluo.

Hmph!

Pa!

"Great!"

Qin Wushi walked out directly, his face as gloomy as the water. Abruptly, he snatched the ashes from Qin Beiluo's hand.

He slammed it on the ground in front of Emperor Qin.

The urn shattered into countless pieces.

The ashes were quickly washed away by the downpour.

"No..."

"Father!"

Emperor Qin instinctively reached to grab it.

"Humph! You little bastard, fetch me some men. Beat him till he's out!" The voice of Qin Wu Shi was like a thunderclap, shaking the heavens.

In an instant, a couple of warriors came forth, intending to drag Emperor Qin away.

"Father..."

Emperor Qin hurriedly scooped up the ashes from the ground, holding them tightly to his chest.

Wham!

Wham!

Blows from the batons landed on his body, leaving it scarred and beaten.

He spit out blood, yet not a single plea for mercy slipped from Emperor Qin’s lips.

Plunk!

Before long, like a piece of garbage, Emperor Qin was mercilessly thrown out of the door.

Bang!

The grand door of the Qin house suddenly slammed shut!

"The Qin family!"

"What a noble family that shall not be insulted!"

"What a world where the strong is respected and should be bowed to!"

"What a rule that the Qin family shall have no wastrel, or that wastrel must die!"

Looking at the sparse ashes in his arms, Qin Huang's eyes turned red. He stared coldly at the plaque of the Qin house, and spoke word by word, "Today, I lack the power to even protect my father's ashes. However..."

"If there comes a day when I reach the peak, that would be the day I step on the Qin family!"

Crack!

A thunder bolt flashed across the sky, making the torrential rain seem even more fierce!