"Day 1: Today I turned sixteen and awakened the memories of my past life. Thankfully, the memories of this world are still fresh in my mind, so there is no issue with blending into my current identity."
"Tomorrow, my father will grant me the family's cultivation technique. I hope that I awaken some special talent."
"Day 2: I've obtained the family's technique. Now, I only need to break through the Spirit Awakening Realm."
"Day 3: I failed to break through..."
"Day 4: Failed..."
"Day 5: Failed..."
"..."
"Day 32: I've managed to break through the Spirit Awakening Realm. Unfortunately, my talent does not seem to be very good. Though he didn't say anything, I noticed that my father was disappointed with my rate of progress. He has turned his attention to my younger brother."
"But I don't believe it! As a person from Earth, how could I not have a goldfinger? It must be that I haven't found it just yet."
"Day 33: Searching for my goldfinger..."
"Day 34: Searching..."
"Day 35: Searching..."
"..."
"Day 370: It took me more than a year to break through the Spirit Gathering Realm. Due to our blood relationship, my father offered me a job on one of the family's many properties. But I refused!"
"Even if I'm not talented enough and I don't have a goldfinger, I will persevere. My will and hard work are enough to help me forge a path forward."
"Day 375: I left the family and decided to join a mercenary group focused on hunting monsters. This can help me obtain resources to enhance my cultivation speed."
"Day 615: Using the resources I obtained through hunting monsters, I was able to break through to the 2nd Level of the Spirit Gathering Realm..."
"At the same time, I developed a close friendship with one of my female teammates."
"Day 803: Hunting monsters..."
"Day 1,738: Hunting monsters..."
"Day 3,238: Hunting monsters..."
"..."
"Day 4655: I finally managed to break through the 7th Level of the Spirit Gathering Realm. With some luck, I should be able to break through the Spirit Totem Realm before my lifespan runs out."
"One should know that my father was only at the 8th Level of the Spirit Gathering Realm back then!"
"It's worth noting that my friendship with the teammate has grown even closer."
"..."
"Day 5,102: During my travels, I chanced upon the cave of a senior cultivator and obtained a Blood Essence Pill. Unfortunately, on my way back to the city, I was attacked by a wave of monsters."
"Though I managed to survive, I also lost my left hand. This means that from now on, I can no longer improve my cultivation. My close friend visited me and tried to comfort me."
"Day 5,103: Drinking and thinking of a way to recover..."
"Day 5,200: Drinking and thinking..."
"..."
"Day 5,489: My father sent me a letter and requested that I return to the family, saying that he wishes for me to become the family's Patriarch. But I refused. Over the past year, the relationship with my former teammate has no longer been merely one of friendship."
"Day 5,891: I asked her to marry me. She immediately agreed."
"Together, we found a relatively remote city and chose to settle down."
"Day 6,008: My wife gave birth to a daughter for me. The family mansion expanded, and I hired a team of cultivators as guards."
"..."
"Day 7,823: I now have two more sons. The family has expanded even further during the past few years. But this has also caused the enmity of the other forces in the city."
"Day 8,921: A team of unknown cultivators attacked one of the family's properties. Although I have no evidence, I can be certain that this is another one of their actions."
"Day 9,221: I can feel that my vitality is gradually passing away. Due to the injuries I suffered in my youth, my lifespan has been severely affected."
"Day 9,445: Vitality is passing away..."
"Day 9,875: Vitality is passing away..."
"Day 10,101: Vitality is passing away..."
...
In a dimly lit room, an aged hand brushed the pages of a withered book, and a few drops of fresh ink were smeared on its fingertips.
But Su Yang didn't mind.
Feeling his vitality gradually pass away and his strength getting progressively weaker, he couldn't help but fall into thought.
If he could go back in time, would he have done anything different?
Would he have agreed to his father's offer and stayed in his family?
If he had, would his life have been any different?
Soon, Su Yang suppressed these thoughts. A wry smile grew on his face.
Though his life had been short, it was brilliant enough to make many people envious.
If he had agreed to his father's offer, he might have indeed lived longer. But until his death, he would have found it difficult to reach the 4th Level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, let alone his current height.
"At the end of the day, I'm just an ordinary person. With no talent and no goldfinger, there is only so much that I can accomplish." Su Yang whispered.
With a move of his fingers, he turned the book over.
Then, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He could feel that he didn't have a lot of time to live.
Less than a month. No, probably less than a week.
"Those people must be waiting for me to die. As long as something happens to me, they'll instantly pounce on the Su Family and try to plunder everything."
Su Yang turned his head.
He looked at the sword hanging from the wall and reached out to grab it.
Holding onto its handle and noticing the familiar cold feeling, a sense of heroism arose within his heart.
"How can I let those people do as they wish? Even if I'm going to die, I will make sure that the Su Family remains safe. My life shall remain brilliant until I take my final breath!" he muttered, gently brushing his fingers against the sword's sharp edge.
Then, he got up. His back straightened, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.
For a moment, it seemed as if Su Yang had shed his worries and returned to his youth—back to when he made the decision to leave his family and forge his own path ahead.
---
The next morning, a shocking piece of news spread throughout the city.
The Patriarch of the newly established Su family entered the Bai and Liu families alone and fought against their respective Patriarchs.
With his cultivation at the 7th Level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, he succeeded in slaying two cultivators at the 8th Level, gaining fame throughout the prefecture.
Soon, his tale spread even further.
From the day that his awful talent was discovered to his eventual rise, the events that had occurred became known.
Hearing that someone had managed to achieve so much despite their terrible talent, countless young men and women regained the courage to seek their own path.
Instantly, Su Yang, the Patriarch of the Su Family, became known throughout the Blazing Flames Empire.
Unfortunately, since the day he entered the two families, his traces had been completely lost.
Some argue that he was severely injured and died shortly after, while others claim that he had left the Empire to search for Immortality.
However, no one knew what really happened.
Besides one person.