Her shout was abruptly cut off.

In the dimly lit room, the current head of the The Newman Family, David Newman, had a sallow, exhausted face. His once robust body was now thin as a stick, hunched over as he leaned against the wall, staring at a dark red pill in the palm of his left hand, hesitating.

Grace Harris, who had stormed in angrily, suddenly felt a pang in her heart. Her voice softened as she gently pleaded, “Father, don’t.”

She recognized at a glance that the pill in David Newman’s palm was a Huishen Pill. Taking it would allow a cultivator to be filled with spiritual energy and vigor for a short time, giving the effect of a final burst of strength.

But the Huishen Pill came at the cost of overdrawing a cultivator’s potential and lifespan, leaving them greatly weakened afterward.

Generally, only when a cultivator was fighting for their life would they dare to use a Huishen Pill to seek a slim chance of survival. It was never taken under normal circumstances.

David Newman, who had been staring at the Huishen Pill for a long time, forced a smile when he saw Grace Newman arrive, and said with difficulty, “Ever since I was gravely injured by the Yun and Yuan families, my qi sea has shattered. The speed at which I gather spiritual energy can’t keep up with how fast it dissipates. My cultivation is hopeless for the rest of my life—I’ll never reach the Xiantian stage, and even this Zhongtian realm… I may not be able to hold onto it much longer.”

“Second and third brother have coveted my position as head of the family for a long time. Tomorrow, people from Lingyun Sect will come. If they see my cultivation declining, and my brothers fan the flames, I may truly have to hand over my position.”

“Father, if you have to trade your lifespan just to keep your position, I’d rather you step down early,” Grace Newman said, her eyes brimming with tears.

“What do you know?” David Newman suddenly glared, his face full of sternness and anger. “Only as long as I remain head of the The Newman Family can you seek justice for the humiliation you suffered at the Yun family! And as for the one who deceived your sister, only by using the power of the The Newman Family do I have any hope of finding out who he is!”

“If I step down, second and third brother will never care about the grievances you and your sister have! For you and Emily, I’ll hold onto this position for as long as I can!”

“So what if I live a few years less? If I step down, I’ll never be able to fight for anything for you again. How is that any different from being dead?”

“Father!” Grace Newman was already sobbing uncontrollably.

“All right, all right, don’t act like a child. Tell me, what did you come to see me about?” David Newman took a deep breath, his expression regaining its resolve.

“Father, tomorrow’s lottery assembly is extremely important. Since you let Little William take the family name Nie, I hope Little William can participate as well. If Little William can find a suitable spiritual artifact at the lottery, it will greatly help his future cultivation. Maybe, with such an artifact, he could reach the ninth level of Qi Refining by age fifteen and enter Lingyun Sect.” Grace Newman pleaded.

“This matter…” David Newman looked troubled. “Do you think I don’t know? I’ve already discussed it with second and third brother, but they insist that Little William isn’t a true son of the The Newman Family, and want to use the clan rules to keep him out.”

“Father, your path of cultivation has reached its end, my sister is gone, and as for me… this is all my life will amount to. Our branch of the family is small, and there’s only Little William as a boy. I hope you can do your best to win an opportunity for Little William.” Grace Newman said tearfully.

David Newman was silent for a long time, then nodded gently. “I understand. Go back now. Tomorrow, bring William Newman to the lottery assembly on time.”

A hint of joy flashed in Grace Newman’s tearful eyes, and she bowed and withdrew.

Just as she stepped out the door and was about to leave, she heard the sound of David Newman swallowing the Huishen Pill, followed by a long sigh.

Grace Newman felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife. She knew that her visit had only helped David Newman make up his mind. Unable to bear looking back, she hurried away in distress.

Chapter 2: The Lottery Assembly

The next day.

The The Newman Family’s main hall was bustling with noise and excitement.

All the elders and juniors of the The Newman Family gathered around Ethan Lewis of Lingyun Sect, showering him with greetings and flattery, hoping to win his favor and secure more opportunities for their children and grandchildren to enter Lingyun Sect in the future.

Ethan Lewis, dressed in a gray robe, sat in the seat of honor, a faint smile on his lips, making small talk with the The Newman Family members, though his eyes showed some impatience.

From start to finish, Ethan Lewis never stood up, while the The Newman Family clan members beside him all bowed deeply, their attitudes humble.

At the entrance of the hall, members of the The Newman Family led children about a year old inside, one after another.

Each person who entered would first bring their child to greet Ethan Lewis, introducing them with a beaming smile, and only then would they pay their respects to the three elders of the The Newman Family seated beside Ethan Lewis.

David Newman, along with his second brother Eric Newman and third brother Brian Newman, maintained their dignity and did not fawn over Ethan Lewis, but every time they met Ethan Lewis’s gaze, their smiles were radiant.

Unlike yesterday, today David Newman looked full of color and energy, showing no sign of injury.

“Grace Newman? Why have you brought William Newman here?” At that moment, an untimely voice suddenly rang out. Henry Newman, who had just introduced his child to Ethan Lewis with a broad smile, now frowned and looked displeased toward the entrance.