At that moment, the words of the family patriarch echoed in his mind once more:
"The Long family has never had a fallen genius... You will rise again in the future..."
Long Yan had initially thought these words were mere comfort, but after learning about Long Nian's past, he finally understood.
They weren't just words of sympathy—there was deep hope and conviction behind them.
With that realization, a sudden warmth surged through Long Yan's body.
Resolve burned in his chest, replacing the dull despair with newfound determination.
He raised his head high, his gaze steady and full of clarity.
Turning toward Long Nian, he pressed his fist to his chest and said with sincere gratitude,
"Thank you, Brother Nian. Without your words today, I might have remained lost in darkness, wasting this precious time..."
Seeing the shift in Long Yan's demeanor, Long Nian nodded in approval. But quickly, he masked his pride with a playful scolding tone.
"Why so formal? Are we still strangers now?"
Long Yan blinked, then chuckled, understanding the teasing tone. He clasped his hands and smiled,
"I'm surprised—Long Yan greets Brother Nian!"
"That's better. From now on, Brother Yan, I'll have your back!" Long Nian declared with a grin.
"If anyone dares mess with you, they'll have to answer to me first!"
"Thank you, Brother Nian!"
[Ding ~ It has been detected that the genius of the family, Long Yan, has regained his fighting spirit. Family luck +100]
Watching the two young men laugh and support one another, Long Chen couldn't help but smile as the system notification rang in his ears.
Yes, this was what he hoped to see—not a fragmented family riddled with envy, but a united family, warm and supportive.
Over the next few days...
The Long family packed their goods and formed a convoy, leaving Cloud City behind as they made their way to Star City.
But as the main and branch families merged, Long Chen noticed a major problem—the current Long family residence was far too small.
Even now, it was overcrowded. If the family grew any larger, it would become completely unmanageable.
So, the question became: Where to relocate?
A thought flashed in Long Chen's mind—Star Mountain!
A famous mountain not far from Star City, made up of dozens of peaks. Its main peak was renowned throughout the nearby cities.
It was vast, steep, easy to defend, and rich in spiritual energy due to its isolation from worldly noise.
It was, in every way, the perfect site for the Long family's future.
Just as Long Chen was making up his mind...
[Ding ~ New side quest activated: Find a new family residence!]
[Quest Rewards: Earth-grade spiritual vein, Earth-grade spiritual field (1 acre), mountain protection formation, spiritual spring, dragon rice seeds]
[Duration: Unlimited]
Long Chen's eyes lit up. These rewards weren't just rare—they were priceless.
A spiritual spring, an energy-rich field, a formation to protect the mountain... Even one of these would cause a frenzy among sects.
With these blessings, Star Mountain could become a cultivation holy land!
Without delay, Long Chen rushed toward the mountain.
Upon arriving at the main peak, the system rang again.
[Ding ~ Star Mountain is suitable for settlement. Proceed with connection? Yes/No]
He selected "Yes" immediately.
[Ding ~ Connection successful. Side quest completed!]
[Rewards granted: Earth-grade spiritual vein, field, formation, spring, and rice seeds]
He nodded in satisfaction. As someone well-read in ancient texts, he knew what each of these treasures meant.
Spiritual veins enhanced the environment. Fields produced rare herbs. Springs cleansed and empowered the body.
The formation—Spirit-Link Formation—could suppress anyone below the Celestial realm.
A miniature 3D model of Star Mountain appeared before him.
With it, he could design the placement of each item, just like a game of city building.
With a chuckle, he buried the spiritual vein.
[Fusion begins. Time until completion: 7 days.]
Seven days to transform Star Mountain.
In the meantime, Long Chen decided to focus on his own breakthrough—he was already at the peak of the Innate Realm.
Breaking through now would allow him to guide his family into their new future with greater power.
With that, he returned to Star City.
That night, at the Long family residence...
Long Yan sat cross-legged on his bed.
In his hands were the two techniques gifted by the patriarch.
He had read them several times. One was Earth-grade, the other unranked but mysterious—both immensely powerful.
He finally understood how much hope the patriarch placed on him.
He couldn't let him down!
He began cultivating according to the Chaos Art.
But no matter how he tried, all the spiritual energy he absorbed vanished the moment it entered his body.
No trace. No reaction. No change.
His chest tightened.
"Why? Why is it only me? Am I really... destined to be useless?"
Long Yan clenched his fists and stared at the moonlight spilling through his window.
"No… I refuse to believe that!"