Moreover, if memory serves correctly, the family is about to face a major crisis.

In the previous life, this crisis cost at least two-thirds of the Ren family’s top experts. On the contrary, William Reynolds’s branch, because of its awkward status and not being part of the mainstream circle, managed to survive.

With this in mind, how could William Reynolds have any interest in getting involved in those internal family rivalries?

Cooper thought her son was just trying to comfort her. She deliberately said this to reassure him. She sighed, “William, my son, when you were still in my womb, a supreme expert blessed you and planted a Dao seed within you. If you can awaken it, you could naturally compete for the title of the strongest among the younger generation of the Ren family. Alas... that was sixteen years ago. Back then, your father was in Yunluo City, at the height of his fame—who didn’t show him respect? If not for that, how could he have been chosen by the Heavenly Pavilion, how could he have received the third-level Moonlight Medal? At that time, there were six children in Yunluo City who were blessed in the womb and had Dao seeds planted. By now, three or four of them must have awakened already, right?”

William Reynolds chuckled, “Mom, you say my Dao seed hasn’t awakened, but that’s old news.”

What?

Cooper’s somewhat worried eyes suddenly lit up like a candle in the darkness when she heard this, her eyes shining with wild joy as she stared fixedly at William Reynolds. Her delicate body was already trembling slightly.

“Mother, to tell you the truth, while I was bedridden this time, I reflected deeply and gained some insight. Suddenly, my mind became clear, and I had a breakthrough. The Dao seed awakened. Otherwise, how do you think I managed to make Emily Reynolds cough up blood with a single punch?”

Compared to the joy of rebirth, compared to the happiness of regaining what was lost, awakening the Dao seed didn’t even seem worth mentioning.

It’s just that, in his previous life, William Reynolds didn’t awaken his Dao seed until two years later. By then, he had already missed the family evaluation, missed the grand event in Yunluo City, and missed the once-every-sixteen-years talent selection by the Heavenly Pavilion.

Sometimes fate is just that harsh—one mistake after another in the previous life led to ultimate tragedy.

But this time, fate seemed so generous, not only giving him a chance to be reborn, but also awakening his Dao seed all at once!

At this moment, Cooper was completely overwhelmed by happiness, unable to contain her joy.

Her son awakening the Dao seed was almost the biggest knot in her heart all these years. She never expected that, in this moment of great sorrow and joy, it would be completely resolved!

On top of that, her son’s series of unusual changes just now finally convinced her that this little son who had worried her so much had truly come to his senses!

Cooper was about to say something when Little Alice’s footsteps sounded: “Young master, the medicine is ready. Drink it while it’s hot, please?”

“Yes, child, this is a special medicine I prepared for you. Drink it while it’s hot to nourish your body.”

William Reynolds sniffed twice and took a whiff, immediately knowing that this bowl of medicine was quite expensive. Given their current financial situation, the cost of this medicine must have been hard to come by. His heart ached, and he felt even more indebted.

Seeing his hesitation, Cooper thought her son was unwilling to take the medicine and urged, “Child, drink it while it’s hot. It’ll help you recover and build up your strength. Today is already the eighth day of the month, and in seven days, it will be your grandmother’s seventieth birthday…”

“What?”

The eighth day! Only seven days until grandmother’s seventieth birthday.

These two pieces of information flashed through his mind like lightning, leaving William Reynolds utterly shocked. Just as he was about to take the medicine bowl, his hands suddenly trembled, and his eyes shot out a sharp, electric light.

He grabbed Little Alice’s wrist and asked, “Little Alice, what time is it now?”

“Young master, it’s just past the Wei hour; now it’s the Shen hour.”

Little Alice’s answer made William Reynolds’s expression change again. Beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. He turned anxiously to ask, “Mother, did my brother come by at noon today?”

“You mean Charles? He came by once at noon, went to your room to check on you, but you hadn’t woken up. He sat for a while and then left.”

William Reynolds felt as if his chest had been struck, his face turning deathly pale.

Chapter 0003: Brother’s Crisis

Countless fragments of memory kept appearing in William Reynolds’s mind. These clues gradually converged into a single thread, emerging from the depths of distant memory, becoming crystal clear once again.

Time: Seven days before grandmother’s seventieth birthday, that is, the night of the eighth day.

Main character: Elder brother Charles Reynolds.

Event process: Charles Reynolds went alone to the Beigong family, one of the ten great families of Yunluo City, to steal something, and was caught in the act. The Beigong family used this to threaten and coerce William Reynolds into handing over the third-level Moonlight Medal left by their father.

In his previous life, before the outbreak of the demon clan disaster, William Reynolds had many complaints about this brother, feeling that Charles Reynolds was idle and irresponsible, not only failing to help the family in times of trouble, but even causing more problems at such a critical moment. In anger, he coldly refused the Beigong family’s demand and said something he regretted for the rest of his life.

At that time, he said, “The third-level Moonlight Medal is the honor left by my father. Charles Reynolds willingly became a thief and degenerate, not only disgracing himself but also shaming my father. Do as you please with him, Beigong family.”

These words were, without a doubt, a sentence on Charles Reynolds’s fate.